Last November when dad was in the hospital following his stroke there was a big storm which caused floods and fallen trees across the province. One very large tree fell in this area, and has been cleaned up. As I drove back to my mother’s place from a late evening grocery shopping I saw a deer watching me. In this gated community the gates close at 7:00 pm, and I’m wondering if the deer got stuck inside or if they would run and jump over the fence.
Mom and dad lived in this house since a few months before I returned from Thailand with my children. That was almost 30 years ago! I have no idea what it would be like to live in the same town, in the same house for 30 years. Two days ago I went to one of the seniors residences to talk to the representative and take a quick tour. We need to find a place for mom, but after that tour there is no chance I can consider moving her there yet. Assisted living is probably no longer appropriate for her because of the dementia, and memory care is so, so very depressing. The room would be only slightly over 300 square feet. The bed is a hospital bed. Bathtub is in a shared room.
The last time I spoke to my grandfather was to say goodbye before leaving to return to Thailand after one of my trips home. He was in a care home, in a small room like the one described above. He promised me that before the new year he would climb the fence and escape. There was no fence. I don’t think he enjoyed the confinement of the care home. He died on December 29.
If I was moved from a home which I lived in for 30 years, to a place 1/20th size, I would try to escape like the deer at dusk and jump the fence.
Reflections 