Dave Smith wrote:

> Wow. How things can change in a week. Last Monday it was cold, windy and
> raining, and a I still had a mother. last Monday morning I had a call that
> she had been taken to the hospital by ambulance because she was having
> trouble breathing. She seemed to be in good spirits when we visited her in
> the ER and she was on oxygen. She was admitted to the progressive care
> unit. The next day I went to see her and she was quite confused. On
> Wednesday we were taking turns going in at meal time to help her eat.
> Early Thursday morning she had a stroke. My brothers and I took turns
> sitting with her. I went home in the late afternoon, not expecting to have
> to go back, but I returned to the hospital just before midnight. An hour
> and a half later she slipped away quietly on my watch.
>
> The timing is never good. One brother and SiL are leaving this week for a
> month long trip to England and Ireland. Another brother is in the process
> of moving. Ironically, after living a few hours drive away and retiring,
> he wanted to move closer to his mother. A nephew has just left for a three
> week vacation on the west coast.
>
> Cremation has taken place. We will be having a memorial service for her in
> June. It seems a long way off. My brothers and I were all there for the
> last four days of her life and we are comfortable postponing ceremonies for
> a month and a half, but our children are uncomfortable with it.
>
> We are arranging for the the church women to provide sandwiches and
> goodies. We will be having family and some close friends back to our house
> for a BBQ afterward. So we have from now to mid June to come up with a a
> good assortment of food to serve.



Be well, Dave...good vibes from Chicawgo :-)

We'll think of some good recipes for you, no worries...

--
Best
Greg