Used to Be Mother's Adventures

I've been chauffeuring Used to Be Mother to and from her numerous doctor appointments for the last 10 days. Poor dear. She's not only losing her mind but also her eyesight. And her bones are so brittle they'd snap with the least provocation. But she still walks to my house before her appointments. Today I decided to meet her as I walked the dog. There she was hobbling along inspecting people's yards along the way. She didn't recognise me until she saw the dog. As we crawl along back to my house, she wonders why they don't do something about the dandelions. And then she says as if she only thought of it just that moment "They are such pretty flowers why do we call them weeds?". She always comments how many homes there are. And how many cars. "Oh the traffic!" She never tires of these comments and I can pretty much guarantee that she will bring them up more than once as we head towards the doctor's or back home.

Yesterday we went through her closet to rid it of what wasn't fitting or what she didn't like. Five bagfuls later, she wonders why I don't want any of it. "Can't you wear that to church?" She's referring to a knee length navy dress with pink feathers embroidered throughout. It has a pink jacket with shoulder pads that look like small hills.

As we were sorting through everything I was surprised at how dirty so many of her things were. Spots from mouthfuls not quite complete. She can't see those spots anymore. Still she is able to discern jigsaw puzzle pieces which she does for several hours a day.

As I dropped her off today, her eyes all dilated as if she were stoned, Used To Be Mother hurries into her complex. She's fifteen minutes late for her dinner. She's tell all her friends about her adventures today. She'll tell them about all the dandelions. About all the traffic. About all the bags we took to Goodwill.