The second I saw the Capiz shell wind chime in the store, I thought “mom.” A Capiz shell is a round, nearly flat shell and is thin as glass. In their natural state, they are a shiny white, but these store shells were dyed in beautiful shades of turquoise, purple, pale green and yellow; some … More The Colors of the Sea
“Ahh, I remember this book” I think to myself as I pull it from a box of mom’s belongings I had quickly packed when we moved her into Memory Care in March 2021. I had given it to her as a Mother’s Day gift exactly two years ago while she was in a several-month lockdown … More Why We Swim
I was pretty naïve Palm Sunday when I called the nurses’ station at a skilled nursing/rehab center where my 91-year-old mom is currently staying and asked them to do me a favor. “Hi, my name is Melanie and I’m Ginny’s younger daughter” I began. “When you have a moment, can you go to her room … More Looking For Long-Term Solutions for Mom
It has been months since I wrote about my 91-year-old mother Ginny who resides in Memory Care (the highest level of nursing and trained staff to help with behaviors associated with dementia and memory loss.) I had really liked that November post because we had shared a nice Thanksgiving meal and live music that evening … More Putting On Brave Faces
A few days ago, we participated in an early Thanksgiving meal with my 91-year-old mother Ginny at her assisted living / memory care residence. The evening included some live musical entertainment and while mom was watching the singer, I was watching her feet tap to “That’s Life” and hearing her sing the last few notes … More Enjoying Some Thanksgiving Notes With the Elderly
“Hi Mom, I wanted to tell you that we’re going to see you soon” I shared in a recent phone call with my 91-year-old mom Ginny who lives in memory care. It was the first time we had talked in five weeks. Her residence had experienced a heavy Delta variant surge which left many residents … More Reunions Inside a Senior Community
In early 2000, author Sharon Marchisello’s mother, Lolita, seemed to understand that something was different and once told her daughter “Losing your mind is a terrible thing.” She had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, and the whole family was learning how to adjust to life with a loved one who was quickly changing. Years later, with … More A Conversation with Sharon Marchisello
Ten days ago, I began to receive an unsettling drumbeat of emails from the senior residential community where my 91-year-old mother Ginny lives. August 28th: “We now have 2 confirmed cases in Memory Care.” August 29th: “we currently have two (2) positive cases in Memory Care and two (2) positive cases in Assisted Living.” August … More Delta Developments
It has been almost a year since my mother Ginny turned 90 during the Covid lockdown. At the time, I remember telling her that as soon as restrictions lifted, we would celebrate this important birthday by taking her out to her favorite restaurant, ordering her favorite gin and tonic cocktail and digging into a birthday … More Life Inside Memory Care
It is the oddest feeling as I prepare to pull out my carry-on bag from the recesses of my closet. It both feels like yesterday and ten years ago since I’ve opened it. It’s been 17 months to be exact. The last time I used it was when I was assisting my 89-year-old mother Ginny … More A Night That Changed Everything -Another Type of Covid Casualty
Leaving The Door Open 