The blur of days...

Sitting here and looking back, I cannot even recall all that I have been doing anymore.

I cleared out the rest of the house with help and without help.

On Sunday, we were all too tired to get up early and decided to catch the chapel service on campus in the afternoon. It ended up being a special program of local UM youth singing songs they had learned at summer camp...the story of Daniel and the Lion's Den. We went and had a nice lunch at Cedar Grill where my daddy had his shrimp bisque. Then we returned and Ski hooked up the stereo and the computer while I worked on the albums, kitchen, and bookshelves. We had to make some calls to get the internet working, but in the end it all worked out. One thing I particularly disliked was hooking up lamps and clocks in my parents' bedroom. I was thankful for Ski's long arms because no one, but perhaps Simon could fit under that bed and it was painful to try to squeeze even part of myself under there.

The carpet guy came to clean the carpets at the house on Monday. They looked amazing after he was done. Ski and I lugged two chairs and a console stereo up the basement stairs and put them out front with free signs. It was such a relief to see a full mattress and box spring, sewing table, chair and recliner, stereo and ironing board disappear into the backs of cars and trucks. Of course, we happened to meet a rather lonely lady who talked us to death most of the day. We got the boxes flattened and ready for Tuesday and the recycling place. We separated the last items into piles for the food pantry, my brothers, myself, and the bazaar. We had a cheeseburger sub for lunch from A&M --the BEST place around for subs!!! Then we had dinner at Dutch Way since my parents had eaten already.

Tuesday, we went to recycling one last time. Then, we lugged a HUGE metal cabinet up the stairs to take to my parents' to put into their storage bin. We took that and the rest of their things back to their place. We fit the cabinet into the storage area and took some of the extra food down there. I worked some more on their apartment. Oh, and in the process of moving, I lost a screw for their very old, but very cool and highly cherished floor lamp. I had taken it off and placed it on a box next to me, but forgot to pick it back up again. Then...later that day, I vacuumed the floor before I realized I had lost the screw. Multiple trips to the hardware store were made before we FINALLY found a machine screw that would hold the glass shades properly.

Thursday night, after dinner in the dining room, I took my dad to see his good seminary friend. Unfortunately, I didn't realize that his friend was not in the section of the Health Center that was close to us, but on the far side of the building. I nearly had dad falling over before a kind nurse lent us a wheelchair. My dad and his friend are funny. One has Alzheimer's and the other has dementia. His friend calls dad every single morning during the week. In fact, sometimes he has been known to call three times in one day!!! They make a funny pair. But the two had me in stitches as they chatted about the days in seminary. They were always up to no good and being troublemakers. And oh, they love each other dearly!! I was glad I got the chance to let them visit for a little while.

Wednesday morning, we went by the house and set out all of the garbage and I tried to discover a way to get back a table that my mother had donated in haste. I found a VERY nice lady who I think was named Ruth. She told me that she would call around and find out how mom could get the table back. Her apartment was amazing!! They had redesigned it just for her since she was in a wheelchair. Her furnishings were beautiful and she had the most incredible collection of porcelain dolls. She told me that she used to make them. I am sure my girls would have loved to have seen them.

The rest of Wednesday was spent driving home. It was a long, long day and I was glad to get home, but you wouldn't have know. I went straight to bed, barely awake.

I am so glad to have my parents finally settling in. They know people there...pastor friends, people they have met through the years, and even a friend mom made when they were missionaries down in Florida. And everyone I met was so friendly!! They all know each other and know my parents are new. They invite them to things...when they are more settled and rested. They are looking out for them...helping them get adjusted. It is nice to know that they are both independent and have help a button away. They have a cool contraption that if they need help, they just push a button and someone will come. They slip papers in their mailboxes now and then "just to be sure that they are around and doing well." They have housekeeping once a month and can pay for more often if they need or want it. They have free transportation within a certain area. They have drs that come on campus. They have programs and activities galore, and even a pool!! And if one needs more care, they won't have to move too far away from each other. I knew the head administrator until he left this year. I still know the head administrator, but not as well. Everyone I knew who worked there loved their job and loved working there. If they have to be so far from me, this is the ONLY place I would have chosen. I know it so well and I know they environment and the quality of care that we always strove for.