Ten

 It's been ten years since my mom died.  Here's what I texted to my immediate family:

Today is the ten year anniversary of the death of our beloved matriarch.

First of all: I can't believe it's been that long.

Second: ten years has not dulled the pain of that loss. 

Third: I am grateful to have had her as long as I did.

Fourth: I know I don't grieve alone.

I made an apple cake this morning.  I'm going to take a chunk over to Grampy and Walter later.  I'm not sure if they are marking the occasion but I am.  I need a little bit of acknowledgement of our profound loss.  Not sure I'll get it from them. But, in my heart, we are all united in singing her praises, telling funny stories, and keeping alive her memory. But that's just in my heart. Mostly likely I'll be celebrating her on my own. But, I WILL celebrate the amazing person that was my mother.

(Steps off soapbox)

Xoxox  xoxox  xoxox'

#

To their everlasting credit, they all responded to my text immediately.  It's true that I don't suffer her loss alone.  We all feel it.  We all mourn her.  I guess there is a comfort in being able to share a memory of someone dear with a person who knew them.  Some kind of shared spark of memory.  A connection.

Ok, well, I'm going to get ready to go to my dad's.  See ya!

Home again, home again, jiggety jig

 Finally.  It was a long six weeks, but I'm home.

Lisa continues to do well.  Her new kidney is working like a champ.  No sign of hepatitis C, happily.  All the things they test for are within normal range.  And, for the first time in decades, she is no longer anemic!  Bonus!  She's still got a lot of follow up.  It is beginning to taper off, though.  She has reached the point where she only has to go in once every two weeks, so that's a huge improvement.  Everything is pointing in the right direction.

Back here in Portland, autumn is in full swing.  Leaves changing color and piling up, temperatures dropping, days very much shorter.  I have loads of stuff to catch up on.  But, it's all the normal stuff and it feels good to be futzing around at home.

My next goal is to get my dad a booster shot, and one for my brother and me.  Dad had Pfizer, I think, so that won't be difficult.  Brother and I had J&J, so we're in a holding pattern.  But, we'll get it done.  I do feel bad about getting a booster when so much of the world hasn't gotten even one shot yet, but I don't want to jeopardize my dad's continued survival. 

What else is going on?  Nothing.  Ahhhhhh......  

Progress Report

 Things are going well down here in SoCal.  Lisa continues to heal.  She is gaining in mobility and oxygen capacity.  She's moving better.  Her kidney is working like a champ.  Dialysis is very hard on the body so there is a long recovery period from that in addition to the recovery from major surgery.  

We are now back in Long Beach.  Her in-person appointments have decreased from four per week to just one.  We will drive down to San Diego on Monday, stop at the lab for a blood draw and urine test, and then wait several hours for the clinic appointment.  After that, it's back to the LBC.  I will driver her down two times and then she'll be on her own.  Fingers crossed!  Actually, she might enlist the help of her neighbor for a while.  The hard part is that she can't eat before the blood draw.  A two hour drive on an empty stomach first thing in the morning (or longer, depending on traffic), is not something to look forward to with delight.  Still, it beats living in a hotel.

I'll be returning home on the 12th.  I cannot wait!  I don't like being away from home for long periods of time (especially this long!)  And, honestly, no matter how great the friendship, 6 weeks makes it wear thin.  We've had a small handful of spats but gotten over them quickly.  Still, for someone who lives alone and isn't the most social of individuals, it is taxing.  But, it's almost over.  I can see the finish line from here.  Wish me luck!