Good days

Mom has had two good days. I am learning that Alzheimer's does that - just when you think the patient is not doing so well, they start doing better.

I haven't helped Mom make her bed or do her bathroom morning and evening rituals for the last couple of days. She even remembered her nail appointment, but this time I walked her to the correct spot. She just seems more like my "old" Mom, but I know that will change at any moment.

I was thinking that since we're having such beautiful fall days and no one knows when that will end, that this might be a good time to go to Mount St. Helens, one of Mom's favorite places. So last night, I asked Mom if she'd like to go and she said she'd been thinking about it.

That's how it used to be with us - we could almost read each other's thoughts and finish each other's sentences. Oh how I miss that. But for the last two days, it's almost been that way.

Mom rose at her usual time this morning - about 10 a.m. - and began her usual routine. When I asked if she still wanted to go to the mountain, she said of course and got ready to go. After she finished breakfast and some other morning chores, off we went on a gorgeous fall day. It takes well over an hour to get to Hoffstadt Bluffs, where we usually stop, but the day was so clear, that I decided to drive on so Mom could see the mountain more clearly. So we climbed passt the Forest Learning Center and finally stopped at a lookout not far from Coldwater Ridge. I asked Mom is she'd like to go on and she said yes, so on we drove. And about 10 miles later, we were at Johnston Ridge. Actually we stopped at Loowit Lookout, and peered at the looming volcano before us. It still takes our breath away. And Mom couldn't get over all the trees we can still see 30 years later that were blown down and stripped during the eruption. And the bare bluffs blown down to solid rock.

She couldn't remember ever going to Johnston Ridge, but now she can. Hopefully. The weather was about as perfect as anyone could ask for. We even saw Mount Rainier in the distance.

I hope I am able to build more memories for Mom; even if they aren't new to me most of them are new to her.

And I thank God for every day and every trip I am able to take with her.