Kindnesses

If ever there were a benefit to living in a small community, support is one of them. And a short commute. Unless you get behind a tractor or a cotton truck.

We have been absolutely overwhelmed with offers of meals, rides to appointments, cards filled with well wishes and small gifts for mother. I spent the day with her yesterday, first day post-chemo. And I did a lot of phone answering from people wanting to check in to see how Mama was. While she wasn't up for conversation, it really perked her up to receive so many messages of concern and care. I'm actually going to have to coordinate a meal schedule so that we don't end up with tons of food all at once! Which is a nice problem to have, isn't it?

For those of you wondering, she is doing really well so far. The expected nausea and weakness, but not too much actual getting sick. We played sudoku, word puzzles and read. We got out the scrapbooking packet she received for Christmas and oohed and ahhhhed over the tags, letters and pages inside. Which led to getting out boxes of pictures and going over ideas for designs (all simple, of course).

The first project she wants to start is doing scrapbooks for all 4 of John's children. She has saved baby photos, some really terrible school pictures, band and sport programs, diplomas, school work etc. We have decided that his daughters might actually like to help make their own scrapbooks and include special memories they have of their dad. I think they will enjoy that and it will be bittersweet for Mom.

One of the most heartbreaking things I have ever had to endure is watching my mother, in her pink pajamas and pink socks, looking a little weary, trace her finger gently over a baby picture of my brother, smiling in his hand-made little outfit. She was very quiet and then she said: "I miss him."