Growing Older...

[Janet]

It's been kinda sad for my mother here recently. I think I've told you she is 83 years young. She was use to a group of ladies getting together playing cards and visiting with each other. Now there is only her and one other lady who is 89 and pretty much blind.

Another of their friends passed from a massive heart attack and they are taking it pretty hard. This friend who passed was also the mother of a dear bus driving friend of mine. The visitation was last night and of course I went for my friend, but also to make sure my Mom and her friend were going to be okay.

They did fine through the tears. I think this is the worse thing about growing older....losing family and friends.

[Lindsey]

I always feel so bad for my grandma when she tells me that she found out that another friend of hers passed away, or a family member I've never met. For me it's so hard to deal with death, even if it's a person I didn't know that well. For my grandma, she just seems very nonchalant about it. I guess after getting to that age, it's easier to just pull your feelings away and not get upset, otherwise your whole life would be consumed with mourning.
I'm sorry about your mom's friend, and I hope your mom gets through it okay!

[Tink]

Janet, I have lost many friends already and as you know, I'm about the same age as you! It is hard... the crowd just keeps growing smaller and the knowledge that your time is also coming nips at your mind as well. I really think that this is part of why some experience senile dementia; it's easy to just get depressed and give up when so many you love are gone.
I think sometimes old age is just a dirty trick.
Your Mom is lucky to have you caring so deeply for her. That really is what keeps people going and able to cope.

[lynne b]

i know exactly where you are coming from. as you know my mom has just had a heart attack. i have dreaded this day for ever. my mom is my rock always there whenever i or anyone else needed anything. she has held our family together through thick and thin, regardless what her feelings were about the situation. she stayed in an awful marriage for over forty years till the day my dad died , so me and my brother's would never want for anything.
well the time has come that i have to start making decisions for my mom 's health and well being and i am just not ready for it. i broke down on the phone the other night when the nurse started talking to me about maybe looking into assisted living . oh yeah my mom would never agree to living with me, she says she dosent want to be a burden to anyone, she worries when i take off work to take her to dr. app. i am holding off on the assisted living ,she has asked me to give her a chance at staying in her home for a while longer, it's not only the heart attack i have to worry about, she's a diabetic along with other health problems. so we'll give it a try and see how she does.
has anyone else noticed a trend that younger kids are taking care of their parents now a days, i am only 47 and i dont remember my parents taking care of their parents at that age. she's my mom and i love her dearly but i am just not ready for this.

[Janet]

It's so hard when we have to parent our parents. My mother isn't well either, kidneys are functioning at 25% the Dr. said. But she's still trudging along.

My mother-in-law, the cancer has gone to her brain. She took her bottom dentures and hid them. The room was searched, bed torn apart, drawers emptied, but we couldn't find them. Then today, they turn up. Don't know what she did with them, but she has them now. It is so sad to see vital women, slowing down, and in my MIL case, losing her mind.

I feel for you Lynne. It's really tough watching our parents grow older with all the ailments of old age. Some can get through gracefully, others, not so much.

You know you're in my prayers and I'll probably be talking with you this weekend.