Return from Florida

My sister Judy and I just returned from a visit with our mother in Jupiter, Florida. As good as intentions were the blogging took a hiatus after the first couple of days.

Mother is 97-years-old, blind, in a wheelchair and living in an assisted living facility. Her condo, where we stay during our visits, is a 45-60 minute drive from the ALF. The most direct route, I95, tests the sanest and safest of drivers. Driving the middle lane at 10 miles over the speed limit creates speedways on either side of you as cars and semis zip by in a blur of motion and noise. Add to the mix a newly arrived senior fearful of any speed over 40 mph. We sense it’s almost a daily death defying act to approach the on ramp.

Our days are spent visiting with Mother; some days she’s alert with good long-term memory, other days she’s asking, “Who are your parents?” Each day drains one mentally and emotionally. We try to treat ourselves to one nice restaurant meal or interesting activity every day.

Our niece Janis enhanced the latest trip by flying in for the weekend. Besides visits with Grandma we took in an Ansel Adams/Georgia O’Keeffe show at the Norton Art Museum, giggled, gossiped and grazed through several excellent restaurants.

During our stay south Florida had the coldest temperatures in five years (I was in Florida for that one too) while Denver saw almost a week of 70° days. The day we left was balmy with many of our neighbors headed to the beach. Upon landing in Denver the pilot announced a cold 17°.

In the coming days I’ll share bits and bites of Palm Beach County while getting back in Colorado mode.