Settling In

I've not posted for a couple of weeks -- first there was the big move for my mom, and now she is settling in, dealing with medical appointments, etc. Her apartment is nice and I will remember to take my camera with me one of these days and post a picture. Her living room faces the back of the complex and she has group of outdoor "pets" to keep her company. A family of ducks spends much time just outside her sliding doors and there is a squirrel in the tree that shades her small patio. Mind you, she isn't in charge of the care and feeding for any of these critters. Most important, the residents and staff seem very friendly.

We had dinner with her this evening -- it was friends and family night -- and Alex won a door prize in the after-dinner raffle. Dinner was spaghetti and meatballs or chicken fettuccine (and, no, I had to come home and eat my prescribed food) and was reportedly decent, but a bit bland. I think things have to be bland when you are dealing with a mostly senior crowd. If I move there some day I will simply take my shaker of cayenne pepper or curry powder to every meal.

We are both learning to negotiate the maze that is Kaiser Health Care. Things take longer, but they do get done. She has had blood tests and a CAT Scan that showed growths in her groin. Not a surprise and this will be dealt with. The good news -- she is here and has a couple of built-in drivers to take her to radiation or chemotherapy, or whatever the good oncologist at Kaiser deems fit.

Anyway, I'm back. Sort of.