Writing on Hold

My writing life has been on hold.

It started in early June.

First, Mom was in and out and in the hospital with a stay in between at a nursing home. I hated the idea of her spending her days mostly alone, so I'd go sit with her for hours. Sometimes we talked. Sometimes I read a book. Sometimes I caught up on social media and email. I watched her sleep. I translated when hospital staff didn't speak loud enough or slow enough. I prayed. And, yes, I worried. After all, she's 93!

My sister visited from eastern Washington and we visited Mom together. Finally, a doctor told us what we'd been expecting--they couldn't fix Mom's heart problem. A palliative doctor came and explained to Mom (and the family) what was happening--this doctor was amazingly kind and clear! And it meant Mom would get to go home to my brother's house as she wished. Hospice was set up. Phone calls were made. We were told Mom would probably only have a couple weeks.

Mom went home. My sister left. My step-sister arrived from New York and stayed at my brother's. My sister and her husband came back. Friends kept dropping by to see Mom.  More out-of time family came and left, and the couple weeks mark passed. My daughter from Boston came. I've had grandsons to visit. Like the Energizer Bunny that we nicknamed Mom years ago, she's still going.  She's alert. Still reading and crocheting, still watching the Mariners. It's been 3 plus weeks since she came home. Evidently, it isn't yet time for her to go to her eternal home.

With a scattered mind, visitors, visits to Mom, I find it very difficult to write. So instead, I've read e-newsletters that have piled up.  I've continued with social media and tried to make some helpful comments about writing. I've caught up on emails. I've done guest blog posts and blog posts. I've done some publicity for my newly released ebook. And I have read, and read, and read. Some is just pure escapism reading. Some is reading in the multiple genres that I write in. I've also looked at books I should read or want to read.

I want to get back on a schedule of writing, but Mom is acting more tired. My time with her is running out. I also need to relieve my brother and sister-in-law from some of the care. So my writing is still on hold.

And that's okay. Because the best words right now are her saying,"I love you."

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