16 Comments

Thank you for this Christine. I appreciate this clear (and compassionate because it's clear) retelling of your mom's story.

Expand full comment

Thank you 🙏🏽 Emily. My business tagline once was “Clarity is Compelling.” I love that you feel it’s compassionate, too 🥰

Expand full comment

Ah! Yes, I believe that clarity is a very important expression of compassion:).

Expand full comment

Thank you for sharing about your mother here, all the love, personality and challenges. This is a lovely tribute. Continuing to hold you in the light as you grieve her loss.

Expand full comment

Thank you so much, Christine. You understand how hard it can be to live up to one's ideals. 🙏🏼 And how suffering traverses generations...

Expand full comment

I lost my mom to Alzheimer's Disease almost 7 years ago. There are days when I miss her so much, and days when I'm happy she's found peace.

In the beginning, I struggled to understand the disease. And even though my kids would often whisper to me 'mom, there's something wrong with grandma.' I didn't want to admit that I was losing her. I took care of my mom for 6 years then, when things got too hard for me, my sister took over her care. None of it was easy but the end was the worst, when my mom didn't know any of our names or, even where she was.

And now all these years later, my sister's strength and courage has become an inspiration for me.

Expand full comment

Thank you so much for sharing this, Rachel. Losing our memories is so, so hard. One of the things Mom said on her deathbed that I could understand was, "I've lost my Self." I'm so glad you and your sister tag-teamed on your mom's support. It's a lovely silver lining. My sisters inspire me, too!

Expand full comment

Well written mix of pain, determination, miracles, love and what not.

Women get the blame

Thx for sharing

I have to sleep

My story is more with my dad or oldest sister

💚🌹💚

Expand full comment

Thank you, dear Prajna. We've all got these entangled love stories - I'm probably someone's horror story, too!

Expand full comment

Me too and I’m sure you’re a love story for many 🌹

Expand full comment

…this too is a miracle…or whatnot…it is wild the way the threads between those who made us and those who made them and so on seed and sow unexpected…sometimes beautiful, a memory, an object, an ideal…sometimes ugly, a memory, an object, an ideal…weaving through understanding, or forgiveness of any flavor, can take lifetimes…brave of you to try doing so in hers…

Expand full comment

Well said, once again, Mr. Foote. Yes, such a mystery we humans be. Aren't you from Nebraska, too? One of my dear friends lost her (mean) mom last year; she was also from Lincoln, NE. Something in the water, or?

Expand full comment

...the wife is from Sidney...i started up north more in the good old MN...definitely lots in the water (mainly walleye) where I am from...

Expand full comment

My hub is from St. Cloud MN, my dad’s ancestors dairy & cheeseheads from MN

Expand full comment

Beautiful, loving synopsis of the trek through an intense relationship full of challenges and gifts. Thank you!

Expand full comment

Thank you, dear Tim 💗💝💖 You've supported us through so much of this intense mother-daughter voyage. I'm smiling at how you spent the first part of our first date with my bald Mom!

Expand full comment