I'm at the Retirement Home, sitting up in The Best Bed with a cup of strong, hot coffee, and some cinnamon toast (fresh potato bread!) listening to the occasional bird call overlay the deep silence. It's not that it's really silent, if you concentrate you can hear the distant surf, but in general the constant same sound of surf sort of wipes out the smaller sounds of distant car engines and makes the air feel silent. If that makes sense.
Mom and Dad have left for Mom's daily radiation treatment -- in Longview, An eighty mile drive for a five minute treatment (tooth grinding noises.)
Fortunately, tomorrow is the last day of this particular round of treatment, and when the next one starts, there will be a radiation treatment center in Astoria, which is less than an hour away. Mom is beginning to show signs of the treatment -- sort of a wobbliness that is new, and a tendency to lapse into waking-coma -- that is, staring with out-of-focus eyes at nothing until you speak to her. Could be merely weariness, I don't know, but I'm very sensitive to every little thing -- she's my mama!
I offered to drive her to her appointment today or tomorrow, but she instantly turned me down -- then recollected herself and thanked me politely, but said that she "needs Daddy" to be there with her -- it keeps her able to bear it! I was hoping that with the passage of time, she would be getting more accustomed to it, and thus more able to bear it, but no.
Even with the worry of Mom and the Cancer Treatment, relaxing at the Retirement Home is so much more relaxing than relaxing at home in the apartment. Something about the bed, perhaps? Or the stillness? No traffic noises? I'm feeling very calm and peaceful.
I've got some dishes to wash, and some sheets to fold, so I'll be on my way rejoicing.
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