Belated Pumpkin Day

Here is my Jack O'Lantern that my friend V and I carved. I know Halloween is over but I couldn't resist posting this photo of "Fred" since I was off line on the actual day. Happy Belated Halloween.

Talk to you soon.......

Where in the World is Suzann?

This has been a hectic time. My client work is interesting and fulfilling yet very time consuming. My friend V arrived from Seattle late Thursday night and we are having a nice time just hanging out - talking, laughing, cooking, watching movies - yesterday, Deb came and we had massages - a nice relaxing time.

My mother had surgery last Tuesday night and was released from the hospital yesterday. She ripped the tendon loose from her knee cap = ouch! It was reattached and she has a cast from her hip to mid-calf. She is getting around with a wheel chair and a walker. Our family friend R is there caring for her right now. Blessings abound! She will have a home health care aid beginning next week. The cast will be on from 6 to 8 weeks and "then we will see." At her age, one does not heal as rapidly - we are all hoping and praying that it heals and she is walking again in a couple of months. We just don't know.

I was scheduled to depart for Colorado on November 9th for another week-long grief seminar at the Center for Loss and Life Transition last night I changed my reservation (Wow, was that expensive!) and am leaving for California on November 8th - I am needed at home. I have no other time on my calendar that I can be away without compromising client work.

I am disappointed about my training - I was so anticipating this next intensive course in the series entitled "Counseling Skills Fundamentals." I was also looking forward to seeing my teacher and being in the community of learners. No biggie, this particular training topic will be given next year - my mother needs me now.

The time has arrived to have the conversation no one wants to have with their parent - we need to make plans for her to sell the house and find a smaller, one level place to live. Of course, the current real estate market makes for a less than optimal time to sell but it needs to be done. I don't think we have to put the house on the market the week I am there - she needs time to heal and to adjust to the idea. There is no more denial - it is a matter of identifying the time frame and getting the real estate agent working on it. I will look at different types of housing options while I am there this time.

This is the thing I most feared, some type of incident that would force the issue. I watched and played a major caregiving role with my dear MIL - she stayed and stayed in her house, refusing to consider a move and when she finally was forced (by dementia) to move out, she could not adjust to the assisted living facility. The end came quickly.

In my mother's case, I think it is prudent to see how she heals, that will inform the type of housing she next needs to find. I have worked very hard at trying to understand - my mother is not incompetent although she has been in denial - she is walking a path that I have yet to traverse (if I live that long). I treat her with dignity and respect, she is not a child. I keep in mind how I want my own children to treat me as the years progress. Oh how difficult it is when you see some things very clearly - I have said for a very long time, "Mom is one accident away from bigger changes that she knows." I am truly sorry to have that come to pass.

The Autumn continues to be spectacular in the north country. This morning we are going to church and then out for brunch and a quick stop at the Farmers Market for the last corn of the season and a big ol' pumpkin for a Jack O'Lantern. Have a wonderful Sunday. One terrific thing is - there is wireless internet at mother's house - I will be able to post some great fall wine country photos.

More to come..........

Change

Last Saturday morning I drove down this street to my personal trainer's house/studio and all the trees were green. On Tuesday, I drove the same route to her studio and presto! The trees are beautiful. Change we really can believe in..............mother nature's amazing cycle of growth, death, renewal and growth.

I am on my way to San Antonio tomorrow. I am going on family business again. Please do keep my youngest son JAE in your thoughts and prayers - I cannot "talk about it" yet - just keep us close in your thoughts.

My best friend and JAE's Aunt J is meeting me in San Antonio and so I will have a lovely weekend with my oldest friend. We will talk until we have no breath left in our bodies. I return to Minnesota on Tuesday. I will try to post at least once while I am in the lovely City of San Antonio. More to come................

Rain and More Rain

I had a picture and a particular post in mind for tonight but blogger has not allowed me to upload photos all afternoon and evening. So, here are Sunday night ramblings. It has been a very rainy weekend in St. Paul. I love it. Having grown up on the west coast of the USA - rain is a dear reminder of winter days playing inside all warm and cozy and then running outside in slickers and rubber boots to splash in puddles. Besides my personal predilection for rainy afternoons - the weekend's precipitation has been a gift. It has been a very dry summer and we truly need the rain.

Last night I had a party here for 30 people to celebrate my dear sister-friend V's birthday. She lives next door and we look out for one another. It was a lovely party - the most important thing being V was just thrilled. We had lots of yummy food and the biggest and most scrumptious carrot cake with cream cheese icing. Everything was a hit.

Life is moving fast for me right now - too fast for my taste. I have grown accustomed to a much quieter life. I am grateful to have new opportunities to meet people, be of service to others, and pursue new interests. I just need to be mindful of not over-committing myself.

The week ahead will usher in even more of Autumn's days. Those delicious mornings, cool and crisp and tinged with the smell of crimson and gold. Oh how I love putting on a little sweater in the mornings - knowing I will be in shirt sleeves or a tee shirt by noon.

The seasons change - the wheel turns. Om Shanti

Autumn is in the Wings

That's right - the past two mornings have been light jacket days. Fall is my favorite season - always has been. It seems that summer is careening to an end - there are dry, fallen leaves in my backyard - enough to rake a bit and sweep quite a few from the deck before my patio dinner last night.

It has been a lovely weekend. I had a great acupuncture session; entertained a friend for dinner on Saturday night; and went to the Mall of America after church today. It is rare that I go to the Mall of America but I needed something that is only carried at Nordstorms. So off to the Temple of Twin Cities Retail - I got a great outdoor parking space near the North Entrance and was in and out rather quickly.

My trip to San Antonio was exhausting. The gold in the experience was to spend time with my friend Missy. We walked the Riverwalk, ate in nice restaurants, curled up with room service and watched the Sex in the City movie and talked and talked. Just had a great girlfriend time. Missy and I met in Washington DC in 1980. Nothing like old friends.

Here in St. Paul we are preparing to have our city taken over by the RNC for the Republican Convention - the convention site is square in the middle of my short drive to the office - should be interesting. I will keep you posted.