This is different

I’m sitting in my parents’ kitchen, shocked that I’m the first up. I’ve been here (in Atlanta, not my parents’ kitchen) since Saturday, to see how Mom and Dad are holding up after Mom’s accident at my house on Christmas morning. And the bonus is I’ve also been able to visit Sean’s dad who’s been in the hospital since Tuesday for a scheduled, but rather difficult, abdominal procedure.

I feel entirely too young to be making the rounds of our parents’ doctors’ appointments. And they seem entirely too young, too. Seventy just doesn’t seem that old anymore. “Old” is further and further away.  When my parents turned 50 I remember thinking, “I thought 50 was old. They seem pretty good for old people.” Of course, now that my husband is a few short years away from that mark it seems much, much younger. I suppose 50 is the new 40.

Mom and Dad are doing as well as can be expected. Dad has taken over the kitchen duties, which entails keeping track of the mountains of food their Sunday School class and neighbors have blessed them with. He is very vigilant about writing the name of the dish on a piece of masking tape and putting it on each dish. My sister taught him how to use the washing machine when she was here two weeks ago but he hasn’t had to use it because when Heather left, Mom’s sister came. I think a refresher course is in order.

Mom is remarkably better than the last time I saw her. She is out of the drug fog and is getting around well. We meet with the foot doctor today and hopefully he’ll say she can take the boot off and walk normally. Well, as normally as one can walk with a clamshell back brace strapped to your middle. The doctor’s appointment to address the back is tomorrow.

Sean’s dad was in good spirits when I saw him yesterday. Of course, it’s hard to be in bad spirits when Sean’s mom and her sisters are around. They are a fun bunch. Throw in my brother-in-law, nephew and Sean’s uncle and you have one crowded but joyous hospital room. One of the nurses said Room 429 was party central.

Thankfully both Sean’s dad and my mom are dealing with non-life-threatening issues. Lord willing, they will recover and be back to their old selves in a matter of time. Both situations, though, have made me think about the time that’s coming when we will be needed more and more. I am not fond of that thought and, like Scarlett, will think about that tomorrow.

For now, Mom and I are off to do her walking – at the Forum. Where we will happen to walk by Charming Charlie… By and through, I imagine.