Rain, rain, rain. It seems to be raining endlessly here, which is bad news for the already swollen rivers and for those who are still coping with flood damage from Hurricane Irene. So many people in our area have lost so much. One of our friends still does not have power. Another has 3 feet of water in his house. Enough already, please?
I took this photo the other day – you know fall is on the way when the Sedum Autumn Joy starts turning pink. Such gentle splashes of pink all over the garden.
This vine is growing in our back forty. Does anyone know what it is? The leaves are star-shaped with spiky white flowers.
Growing all over the edges of our property – and everywhere else on my travels around the neighborhood.
The day after the hurricane I noticed this spectacular spider web. It’s stretched between two trees in our overgrown back forty. Amazing, isn’t it?
Mom is still in the rehabilitation facility. She is barely speaking to anyone – she says about 10 words to my Dad and my sister and then sends them home. I call her every day and lately I get about 30 seconds of phone time before she cuts me off. She is withdrawing from everyone. She wants to die and she says it fairly often. I wonder if this is her way of pushing us away so she can transition. I don’t know. I only know that my father is heartbroken and that my mom is desperately unhappy and determined to remain that way and that there is nothing but sadness permeating everything.
A little sunshine might help.
I will continue to keep you all in my thoughts and prayers. The pictures are just hard to believe. I will try and push some of our sunshine EAST for you to enjoy. There is a fall chill in the air, but….the sun is shining and on it’s way.
Prayers for you and you Mom and Dad and your family. Such a hard time for everyone.
Hope for sunshine your way.
– Joy
Send that rain this a-way. We need it so desperately. I’m so sorry about your mom. This is such a hard time. That is one spectacularly spooky spider web!
Brenda
So sorry to hear about your Mom — I do hope comforting days come your way soon.
It is so, so sad. And when she does go, Dad is going to be a force to deal with. Yuck, I think I need some sun myself.
MEre
Good thoughts go to you and your family regarding your mom. It is so hard to see them change. I hope the change of season gives you many new projects to start and enjoy. I would not like to meet the maker of that web. Hugs, Deb=^..^=x4
Claudia, I’m sorry you and your family are going through this…you’re in my thoughts, and I hope comfort makes its way to you all.
I’m so sorry to hear of the struggle your family is going through right now. I don’t even know what to say… my heart goes out to you.
Hugs,
Jill
PS: There’s a little box of California sunshine on it’s way to you, sweet friend. Check your mailbox (or the puddles around it- yikes!)sometime around Saturday. xox
Claudia your mom is probably scared. She is at a point in her life where everything has changed for her and uncertainty can be terrifying. Just keep calling. It must be so hard for all of you. I do hope some sunshine comes, literally and figuratively.
Sue
Yes, rain, rain, go away!
Keeping you all very close in my thoughts.
(and I’m hoping someone does know what that white vine is. It is all around my neighborhood.)
We finally got some much needed rain, but a little too much. I’m not complaining, though. We desperately needed it. Schools were canceled to day because of the flooded roads. I haven’t heard about tomorrow yet. I will be thinking about your friends who still don’t have power. That’s so hard!!!!
What a grand spider web. Is it made by a writing spider? I love spiders. I think they are magnificent creative creatures!!! I wish I could weave as well as they do!
I am so sorry to hear about your mom. I will send you an email.
So sad, your mom’s struggle… I’m so sorry you are all going through this. And yes.. some sunshine.. please.
Oh gosh… so sorry to hear about your mom… her actions sound fairly typical though sad to say. *sigh* One day at a time, Claudia. One day at a time will get you through this.
I don’t mind the rain except that our pup does not want to go outside and poop in it… LOL
Claudia, so sorry your neighbors are still dealing with the effects of the hurricane. Not fun! I wish I could send all of you the beautiful weather we are having right now.
Claudia, This must be hard for your whole family. All you can do is keep showing your mom how much you love her at a time like this. My thoughts are with you and yours. I will gladly send you some of our Arizona sunshine.
Claudia, from your description of your mother’s symptoms, she seems to be undergoing a severe depression on top of everything else. Why don’t they give her antidepressants? It’s not the end of the world when a person has to take antidepressants and I’m sure it would give her a much needed lift. If I were you, I would look into this. That could very well bring the sunshine back in her life. If it has gotten to the point where she cannot say more than ten words and will not talk to you any longer than thirty seconds, that is very serious. To me, that signifies deep, deep depression which would explain why she is so lethargic. I do hope very much that you will look into this. At this stage, she has nothing to lose. Believe me, depression is not sadness, it’s far beyond that. And, depression hurts everywhere. It hurts in the body and it hurts in the soul! I think you said she was in her eighties! Well, that’s not old for some people. If she could get a morale boost, she would regain the urge to live. Right now, that’s what she needs the most in order to live through this. And, antidepressants would give her that.
Oh, Claudia, I am so sorry to hear of the situation with your mom. So sad. My prayers will continue for you and your family and yes, for some sunshine. Twyla
I am so sorry to hear about your mom. She must be in so much pain inside! This must be so hard on everyone!
The flower pictures are beautiful! I would hate to see the owner of that home! (spiderweb). Actually I would like to see him from a distance, he must be fantastically big! The web is beautiful though.
I’ll gladly share some of sunshine here in Oregon — our rain will be on the way soon enough. :-) Thinking of you & your family and love that you call your mom every day. xo -amy
Claudia, you know I am thinking of, and prayng for, all of you… you, your mom, dad, sister, etc. I cannot believe it has been one month since losing my Dad.
I will be watching to see if anyone identifies the white star type flowers as I have the same thing in the front yard.
It looks like you and Don had a fantastic time in Boston, albeit a very short time. I’ll be watching for more photos. Looiks like you hd a lovely day. The day you wer ein Boston, I was in Allston, helping our oldest move into her new apartment.
Have a good week, Donna
Claudia,
I am so sorry for your sadness. I went through the very same thing. Sunshine would certainly help. All this rain makes me very lazy. So, I ordered some Jack Reacher stories…..
Take care of yourself dear lady.
Carol
Claudia, I know what you are talking about…we are here on the east coast too. But, we were not hit so hard with the flooding here in PA.
So sorry to read about your Mom…prayers for a little sunshine all around!
I cooked homemade chili in my crockpot to lift my spirits yesterday, will look for something similar today! It was delicious!
Dear Claudia,
how hard for all of you-and such a sad situation- I hope like all the others here, that you will have a little sunshine in your life, in every way possible-
Hugs,Dorthe
So love the intricate beauty of spider webs. You capture nature beautifully.
I will share your note tonight with sis. TYSM for your seweet thoughts.
Have a beautiful eve ~
TTFN ~
Hugs,
Marydon
I can understand. It’s so hard seeing our parents grow old in front of us isn’t it? Sometimes I feel useless. We just have to remember the good times. I’ll keep her in my prayers.
xxx Liz
I’m sending you some North Carolina sunshine and warmth – we have more than enough! I hope you feel it and then see it one of these mornings as you wake!
I do understand about your mother’s sadness – years ago I went through a similar time with mine. I even went to England to try to get her to want to keep going and return to the vibrant woman she was. It didn’t work then but, a few months later, she sat up in her bed in the rehab. hosp., told my brother she want to live, got better and lived another 10 yrs. until she was 91! BTW – we discovered she was suffering with a candida (thrush) infection which caused her to stop eating because everything tasted bad. Once that was treated I think it was one of the reasons she improved.
Anyway dear, I’m thinking of you and hoping things improve very soon.
Hugs – Mary
I am sorry to hear about your mom. I’m a trauma nurse and many people go through this, even young ones. They finally make it out of the hospital, only to land in the rehab and more of the same. Not sure what your mom is dealing with. She could have an infection that could be treated and she would feel better. And pain issues need to be dealt with – pain wears us down in a hurry. Antidepressants may help, many trauma patients are put on them immediately – they take about three weeks to become effective. If she has a terminal disease, she needs help and consideration for end-of-life issues. Just being there for her and realizing her needs are the most important things – and you are already doing that. So keep on keeping on. Sending you good thoughts, Linda
Hello Claudia,
That’s right! It’s been cool and cloudy here in T.O.
Gabriela