Yesterday we had a little celebration barbeque for my mother Dot’s 92nd birthday. It’s been a bit touch and go recently, and nobody thought she’d actually make it to 92, but she carries on defying us all. For weeks she has been telling me that she feels she is dying, and in fact as far as she is concerned, death cannot come fast enough. She has been muddled, with a non-characteristic laissez-faire attitude. She wasn’t eating, food was going mouldy in her fridge, and we all feared the worst.
It turns out that apart from other health issues, she has been allergic to the Flucloxacillin antibiotic that the GP prescribed for a leg ulcer. When the course finished we found that Mum perked up no end. The ulcer is less red and sore, and she started eating for England. She remained undecided whether she wanted to attend our barbeque right up until the last minute, but did agree to come at the eleventh hour and refused the wheelchair that Sam offered her yesterday. Instead she used her three-wheeled walker to trudge along, albeit rather slowly and carefully, up our garden path. My two sons lifted her up the front step, Sam stayed behind as ballast, and I prayed we could get her to a chair before she fell over.
The whole family had assembled en masse, with armfuls of cards and presents to bestow upon the birthday girl, who spent the afternoon basking in good wishes and adulation. We all sang to her, and my eldest son’s voice as usual was the loudest of them all and characteristically a semitone or two flat on purpose. Of course we cannot help but wonder whether this birthday is going to be her last, but we seized the day and made the most of the chance we had to celebrate. Here below is the birthday girl blowing out her candles. She never takes her coat off in my house, as she lives in sauna temperatures and finds everywhere else too cold. No I didn’t make the lovely cake if you’re wondering… it was made by a family friend.
Stevie Turner said:
It was. Thanks for your comment.
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joanneeddy said:
So nice, Stevie, that you were able to celebrate your Mom’s life with a birthday party! Nothing is guaranteed in life, so whether this is her last or she has more to come, it sounds as if it really was a special day for your Mom and your family!
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mariaholm said:
This post brought me tears in my eyes. None of us know how we will react at the end of our lives. My mother died from cancer in her cerebellum. She just continued to live as long as she could never complaining at all even though she lost her ability to chew and swallow her food and her balance of course was lost too . I mean it was very difficult to eat. She was so tough and brave. How I miss her still after soon 8 years
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robjodiefilogomo said:
Oh, how wonderful!! Happy Birthday mom!!
It is amazing that the medication can sometimes be the problem!!
jodie
http://www.jtouchofstyle.com
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Stevie Turner said:
She doesn’t do well on antibiotics, that’s for sure.
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spiritualdragonfly said:
Awesome!!! Happy Birthday Mom ❤️🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈
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Bernadette said:
Happy Birthday Dot.
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Clive said:
Glad you could have your special celebration and hope the star enjoyed her show 😊
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Stevie Turner said:
She certainly did! Thanks Clive.
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Darlene said:
Congratulations to your mom. At this stage every day is a gift. Glad you all got to celebrate in style.
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Stevie Turner said:
Thanks Darlene.
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Juli Hoffman said:
How lovely! Great to hear that her health improved just in time to celebrate her birthday. 🙂
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Stevie Turner said:
She seemed fine yesterday. On the surface she is slight and frail, but underneath she is as tough as old boots!
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Stevie Turner said:
Yep. At Dot’s age we need to!
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piratepatty said:
That’s beautiful. Always seize the day!🎂
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ksbeth said:
happy birthday, mom!
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