Being married to an only child...and a little about Doc...

Way back in 1967 when we married, we were just not the norm. Hubby was an only child, the son of a two great parents. Hence, I had a mother and father- in- law, on the other hand, he had only me, no in-laws and only my brother that he rarely saw up until a few years ago when he divorced and remarried and as I had often wanted my brother back, I did get him back and happy days are here again. He and I had to be very close growing up in order to survive. We now are bonded by love for each other and the family love of his wonderful wife.

Hubby did have it easy in comparison to me. In that he didn't have to bother with those not so nice stories we all have heard of mother- in- laws! Mine was different, a loving, always dressed to the tee lady and was and still is the spiritual bond that kept the family on track. Impressions were instilled in my two sons --from their mamaw and from being taken to church, never being drug, but went willingly and when they got older, they still chose to go to church and still do today as adults.

My mother-in-law recently turned 90 years old. Things are not exactly as they once were nor her actions as they should be--due to age and possibly her light stroke 3 years ago. She and I have always been totally different in many ways, but now she and I are too much alike, it is scary. She, like me, does nothing except go to the doctor, get her hair done, go to the grocery store and pick up her meds. Most 90 year olds don't drive, but so far so good with her driving, although she is the only person that I know of that bumped a curb and she had to cough up over $500 for that little curb crash. After being the church secretary for 41 years and being on the church board that long too, the church honored her on her retirement last year in a beautiful service and lunch for her with all her family there that could come. Hubby had talked to the preacher and the church board as mamaw was not able to handle her own $, my hubby was doing it; so surely she needed not to be handling and depositing the church monies. Heavens forbid!
Other than being a whole lot forgetful, she does well. See- I forget too. Again the only difference tween her and me now is 28 years!

We do find neglect in small things that never would have been twenty years ago, sorta like the dust I shared with you earlier. Sad when I go down there and actually see dust in her neat, flower filled house. The stove is no longer used. Her freezor is full and she keeps buying things. Yes, her son needs to clean it out. Cause I ain't! She did not retire until she was 70 and then volunteered at the nursing home and she delivered the prune juice there for many years until she finally gave that up.

Poor hubby calls patient #1 in the morning to make sure she knows what day it is cause she is bad to want to go a day early for her hair fixing and prayer meeting. He makes sure she knows what she has to do for the day. He then calls patient #2 and I tell him my aches and most days tell him if I am going to one or two of my four places that I have to go to weekly. Mamaw likes the grocery store real good. She goes every day. She likes the deli chicken and eats chicken bout ever day, but so far I ain't seen no chicken feathers on top of the dust when I go on a rare visit down there with hubby.

God blessed my doctor with ALL of my mother-in-laws folks so he knows the apple don't fall far from the tree. He took mamaw's license when she had her stroke and it made her madder than a setting hen. Doc told Hubby on one of his visits that he was going to let her start back driving but the wise son that he is, told Doc not right yet so Doc obliged. She would really have been mad if she had known Hubby had his two cents worth in that decision! I am just thinking why I am calling him so politely Doc here ,when in reality I always call him Ding Dong, cept to his face. He is also my hubby's doctor and Ding Dong toldem one day when hubby had an appointment with him, "Tween your mother and your wife", I don't see how in the h*** you stand it." Now now, that ain't patient confidentiality.

Mamaw can come up with some real good funnies in her demented stage of her life. Although concerned as we are for her, we just have to laugh as a whole lot of her utters now are so dang funny. We also know that her spinning and grinning days are nearing a close. She has already been told the next curb that jumps out in front of her, so goes her freedom of driving. The also possibilty of her coming to live permanently with us is fast approaching and the thought elevates my "anxiety" to a record breaker. We, lol, ( I ) kept her for three weeks when she had her stroke. At the time I didn't know she didn't like the tv on all the time nor did she know that she was getting on my nerve really, really bad. Little DID I know until a year or so later that I GOT on her nerve too! Who woulda thought it? So after three weeks and my nerve shot, hubby says I will take her home and stay with her a while. hehe...... After three weeks of going down there after he ate supper and relaxed some here after he got off work, then went down to her house, he came home saying of all things, that she got on his nerves too. Wooohoooo, what's new?

Today was the best one of many of mamaw's expressions and comments she says at the most unlikely and not always the best place to say. Hubby had called patient #1 as usual this morning and as always as he is hanging up, he told her to stay in out of the heat today and to take it easy........ mamaw says, "well when it is this hot and you are 90 years old and horney, there ain't much more you can do."
Moobear giggles.....I am just sure she meant
ornary, as you folks know the H is silent in some words. That word used ain't ever been in her vocabulary but I guess when I get 90 they may slip in through my cracks too.

Until a cooler day.......

God Bless!