The new medication regime for Mom brings a daily shift in her mood and cognition. On this particular day she seemed a bit out of sorts so I offered to take her on some errands and she was happy to join me. When back at the house, I gave her lunch and then she seemed to want some privacy, so I went to my room to catch up on some correspondence, and reading I had been saving for some down time.

I gave it a few hours and then went about the house looking for her and discovered Mom on the porch lounging in the shade. I assumed she was resting but her expression was so forlorn I asked was she alright. Mom replied “No, I really am missing Pat.”  My heart went out to her and I said to her gently “I know Mom, it must be awfully hard for you to not have him after so many years together. It makes sense you would miss him terribly.” A few hopeless tears ran down her cheeks and she quietly wiped them away. Then she replied “Well thank you for acknowledging that for me. It is hard, but I guess it will be my turn next.” I smiled at her, trying to lighten the mood and said “I hope it won’t be anytime soon!” Mom looked up at me and said with a bit more optimism, “At least not before some Ice Cream!”