Les and Jude, thanks for your condolences and blessings. Les, it sounds like your mom's situation is much like my mom's.   My mom is physically in great shape for 91, partly because caring for Dad gave her a pretty good workout every day and partly because she has a wholistic-medicine oriented MD daughter nearby.   She's also an independent spirit who's not inclined to feel sorry for herself, but I fear that sometimes extends to not acknowledging some of her own emotional and social needs.   With Dad having gone on, she could be free to enjoy her "golden years" without having to spend so much time and energy on "housekeeping," but finding yourself suddenly free of responsibilities and with lots of time on your hands can be traumatic in its own way.   It won't surprise me if she "follows Dad home" within the next few years.   And, since her short-term memory has begun to deteriorate noticeably, that might not be a bad thing.   She does not want to have her mind 'go' for 10 years before her body finally follows suit.

It is, indeed, a joy when leaving this world is both timely and peaceful.


Bert, congratulations on your daughter's "poopy noises."

And, Les, happy birthday to your daughter and it's good to know that the bully situation is under control, at least for now.