Progress, As In Being

Sometimes a path feels cloudy. So it’s seemed since I began thinking of using another platform to compose my daily blogs. Yesterday, after initially shifting onto the Word Press platform, I received questions from readers about how to sign-up and continue receiving blogs. Word Press adds to the confusion by associating “Diana’s Morning Blog” with my earlier writings as “Trail Rider in Central Oregon”. Early today, I invited morning blog recipients to begin following me on Word Press. Here’s hoping the invitation will simplify signing-up. Regardless, we’ll figure things out. Remember that change by its nature evolves as a work in progress!

Speaking of cloudiness and change, my 87-year-old sister phoned the other morning to announce sadly that she weighs only 80 pounds. Her continuing story included her having fallen out of bed, having experienced hallucinations, and having great concern about failing to pay taxes, to ensure the safety of her Arizona house. I reassured her about the taxes and house, but feeling concerned over other parts of her story, went to visit her.

A stop at the nurse’s station assured me that my sister weighs almost 93 lbs., at least far better than she’d reported. The caretakers said she’d neither fallen from bed, nor to their knowledge hallucinated. After entering my sister’s room and correcting her as to weight, she argued insistently that she weighs only 80 lbs. She remembered saying nothing about falls and hallucinations, but recalled my assurance of her home’s safety. Despite all this mishigosh, my sister remains incredibly alert.

As I was leaving, a manager fell into step beside me to describe an agreement she has with my sister. For the facility’s Valentine’s Day Dance, she’ll bring a fancy gown that my sister has promised to wear, and to attend the dance! I explained that years ago, in those times when my sisters and I were losing our mother and eldest sibling, their dementia had quited them. This sister is a completely different story! The manager nodded and laughed, “Yes, she’s the Energizer Bunny!”

That superb visual is an apt description of my now-eldest sister throughout her lifetime.

Have a great day,

Diana