and perhaps, never wish anyone HMDs
Update. Son mentioned the day in a brief email about something that day and did call just to talk later. My most memorable college age story was when son was a freshman. I kept track of when his finals were so I would know which day to expect to go move him out. That Sunday afternoon I was in a parking lot when he called me on my cell phone. I was surprised as I thought he would be in the middle of a final exam in a math course. It turns out he finished early and called! He got an A in that course, btw.
After much discussion, brother and I agreed a family get together with 89-year-old Mom would be too much for her to process. She’s recuperating from an ER visit due to pulmonary embolisms, right after she was settling back home from her hip revision and two month rehab stay. She had some attention and clarity deterioration from all of this, plus she’s now on oxygen.
I did want to visit because we’re moving long distance in two weeks and this was our last chance to get up there.
So we agreed DH, DS, and I would drive up (35 minutes away) and just visit casually, then bro and family would go over later for a short visit. I called Mom four times on the road up, both home and cell, no answer. With her history I was truly scared of what I would find when I walked into her condo. I found her sitting by the bed half dressed (this was noon) saying over and over again how the phones just kept ringing and she couldn’t get out of bed to answer them and they just kept ringing. Once she finally got dressed and had her breakfast she was much better and we had a nice visit.
Then we dropped by brother’s house (five minutes from Mom), had our goodbyes with them, the three of us stopped for brunch, and finally ended at my Dad’s grave to say goodbye to him. (This was timely because he passed away the day after Mother’s Day 18 years ago.)
DS gave me a lovely card, and DH gave me a card from the cat. He’s always said I’m not his mother so why should he get me a card. I do normally get flowers, but because of the move no one got me anything. Hey, the vases weren’t packed yet!