Memories

My mom decided to add remote voice mail to her phone so she can at least have people leave a message when she is on the phone.    I was really proud of her because she was proactive in ordering this service, but she became frustrated when she went to set it up.  I came over to bring her my homemade noodles and meatballs and visit for a while.  She greeted me and then told me how frustrated she had become with setting up her voice mail and asked for my help.

I took her directions that she had written on a piece of paper and tried and tried to follow it when setting up her voice mail.  Then we decided that I should go online to figure this out, well at my mom's housing place they have internet and a community computer for anyone to use.  I asked one of her neighbors if she wouldn't mind if I just popped on for a few minutes.  This took, I am not exaggerating, three hours.

I discovered that there needed to be a pin number, but that number had to be mailed to her.  I called four times and was told my call would be answered within a minute.  This minute lasted over 20 minutes long. I told my mom that we need to have AT&T tell us what time she has left on this earth, because whatever the number is; its going to be lots, more time, by the way they measure it. We all laughed!   When we finally got this all settled and done with a recorded outgoing message it was over four hours of googling, typing and calling.

The nice lady that gave up her computer to me, was kind enough to bring me homemade peanut brittle!  She had just made the peanut brittle that morning.  So that was my bonus.  My bonus was also the precious time that we got to spend together today.  We got to touch briefly on what she wants and we talked about her desire to stay in her own home until she dies, and then we took a trip down memory lane.

Isn't it funny, that we can share a memory and have two different memories.  She started sharing the story about when my mom was on a bridge, over a dam and being attacked by a bee and since she allergic to bees; she is afraid of them too.  She freaked out and flung her white shinny, patent leather, purse over the side of the bridge.  I remember distinctly that we looked over the bridge and watched her purse floating in the water below but, we had no way to get there to retrieve it.    Her memory is I was a small infant and she had just passed me to my grandmother but I remember the whole thing and I was about four or so.   We both insisted that our memory was the correct one and then she said she,"Well I am just going to  have to ask Mamma and Daddy when I get to heaven and see who's right"  We both chuckled, and I said, "Well mom, were are going to have to figure out a sign to let me know you were right" and she said wistfully, "You know I think all this stuff isn't going to be important.  I think we are going to be too focused on worshiping Jesus."  We both got quiet and agreed.

Her phone rings and its the Dr's office she has an appointment for the CT scan its January 31st at 8 AM, she is not to take any blood thinners or aspirin and she is to eat a light breakfast that morning.  So now the waiting begins...

Of course, I am torn in fifty directions, so while I was there; I got a text to pick up ice and knew that my family would devour the tasty meal that I had prepared for them, without me, if I didn't get on the road.  I told my mom that I would come back tomorrow and see her just give me a call when she wakes up.   We kissed and hugged and then off I went to the store and then home to feed the hungry masses.