Thought I'd post a bit of an update, because I wanted to let you all know that things are on the upswing. It's been 2+ months since my mom died, and since we lived together it's been extremely difficult NOT being reminded of her all the time. However, I've recently taken some steps to do things that are not only good for other people, but good for helping me heal and move forward.
A couple of weeks ago, the mail carrier left a blue grocery bag for a donation thing that happens every so often. You put non-perishables in it and leave it out for the carrier to pick up on a certain day. I decided to clean out the cabinets of things I'd bought for Mom--some before her choking incident (which left her on a soft food diet) and some after. Among them, a big bag of Cheetos. She LOVED Cheetos! We used to find it hilarious to go in her room and find this 89-year-old woman with fluorescent orange fingers and lips.
Anyway, I actually needed an additional bag, and I filled them both to overflowing. The food goes to local food banks, and I'm glad to know that people who need food will enjoy these things Mom didn't get a chance to. It felt a bit like throwing away a little piece of Mom, but it was cathartic, too.
Also, I received--or, actually, Mom received--a mailing from the very place, Convalescent Aid Society, I had planned on donating some of her medical equipment to. Ironically, its front page boasted that "CAS turns 90!" Mom would've turned 90 in July. So I took this mailing as a sign that it's time for me to move on donating her stuff. I called them and arranged a pick up date. I'm going to donate her wheelchair, walker, never used bedside commode and carton of plastic liners, washable bed pads, shower chair, and anything else I see that might be usable. I verified that CAS does NOT charge people for use of any items so, again, I feel good knowing that people who need these things and can't afford them will have use of them.
Various other, smaller things have happened, too. Basically, I'm still struggling but I feel like I'm making some movement forward. Now if I could just get moving on having the house and carpet cleaned...
A couple of weeks ago, the mail carrier left a blue grocery bag for a donation thing that happens every so often. You put non-perishables in it and leave it out for the carrier to pick up on a certain day. I decided to clean out the cabinets of things I'd bought for Mom--some before her choking incident (which left her on a soft food diet) and some after. Among them, a big bag of Cheetos. She LOVED Cheetos! We used to find it hilarious to go in her room and find this 89-year-old woman with fluorescent orange fingers and lips.
Anyway, I actually needed an additional bag, and I filled them both to overflowing. The food goes to local food banks, and I'm glad to know that people who need food will enjoy these things Mom didn't get a chance to. It felt a bit like throwing away a little piece of Mom, but it was cathartic, too.Also, I received--or, actually, Mom received--a mailing from the very place, Convalescent Aid Society, I had planned on donating some of her medical equipment to. Ironically, its front page boasted that "CAS turns 90!" Mom would've turned 90 in July. So I took this mailing as a sign that it's time for me to move on donating her stuff. I called them and arranged a pick up date. I'm going to donate her wheelchair, walker, never used bedside commode and carton of plastic liners, washable bed pads, shower chair, and anything else I see that might be usable. I verified that CAS does NOT charge people for use of any items so, again, I feel good knowing that people who need these things and can't afford them will have use of them.
Various other, smaller things have happened, too. Basically, I'm still struggling but I feel like I'm making some movement forward. Now if I could just get moving on having the house and carpet cleaned...
Well, I got my fill of Cheetos and can no longer stand to look at them. :laugh:
