The wall of book cases in their old basement holds a lot of books, especially when you pack each shelf two or three deep. At one point, they had been sorted by author but that point receded into the distance years ago.
I went through them just as I had with the books from their bedroom: throwing out anything in disrepair and filling bags upon bags with titles that they wouldn't want to read again. Even so, they had over 80 Reader's Digest Condensed Books which they wanted to keep and the authors Mom is sure they'll reread filled an entire case. I don't know where she plans to put them. The new place will become a death trap pretty quickly if she continues cramming it full of stuff.
I get it: being surrounded by the books, movies, pictures and other paraphernalia of the life I've loved brings me happiness, too.
But having Dad around brings me more happiness and too much stuff has become a serious impediment to his well being.
Margy has been in town for a week, meeting with realtors and a contractor over what, if anything, needs to be addressed before the house goes on the market.
Later this week, Dad will be leaving transitional care for the second time. His new home is gorgeous, safe and filled with the services he needs. It's going to be wonderful! He's regained the strength he lost in the stroke: his left hand is working as well as the other again. Now, he gets to concentrate on his continued healing from the initial fall.
Labor Day was as drippy and dreary as the last week of summer has been. My brother Bill invited everyone out to his place for brats and a last dip in the pool. Hardly anyone could go: too much to do getting ready for school in the morning!
I'm so glad that's not a consideration for me anymore!!
Mom, Dad, Margy and I were the only ones who made it out to Bill's and I for one, am glad it was a tiny gathering! Most of the time, when we get together, there are so many people it's just a mad house. Actually getting to have dinner with only a handful of us was delightful! We all sat at the same table and talked to each other for hours. We never get to do that!
Bill's house is not wheelchair accessible but Dad got up the short flight of stairs in the garage using his walker. Like I said, he's much stronger than he was three weeks ago. When it was time to call it a night, we didn't want to run the risk that Dad was too tired to walk himself back down the stairs, so Bill, Jen and I simply carried him, wheelchair and all, down the long, shallow front steps. Dad weighs nothing and the chair is a miracle of heavy duty, light weight technology.
So now, it's September, summer vacation's over and it's still raining.
Oh well.