Dad has been living back with Mom in the apartment since the end of January. Right away, it seemed like they were both happy with the move. Dad said he didn’t remember living there before, and he was concerned at first about how he was going to get back home. But after just a couple of days he seemed to be more comfortable.

After a little while, he started asking questions and making comments that showed he did remember some things about the Independent Living Center where they had lived since the end of 2008. I asked him a few weeks ago if he were glad that he was living back with Mom instead of at the hospital (we never called it a nursing home). He said, “Where else would I live?” And then he said that he didn’t remember living anywhere else. (Sigh. . .)

They’ve developed routines again. We all like our routines, right? Many of their routines center around food – getting up, getting ready, and going to the dining room for breakfast; going to the dining room for lunch; going to the dining room for dinner (no – “supper” is the right word according to Mom). And then there’s their ice cream for dessert or for a snack – gotta have that ice cream!

And then there are therapy sessions and doctor appointments – so many doctor appointments. But now that the weather’s nicer, they can spend time outside – which they both love. They have a little garden at the back of the Living Center that they enjoy working in – Mom especially.

The garden was just a little spot next to a tree at first.

But Mom had a vision. And the little garden grew.

And other residents visit it and talk about how much they enjoy it.

Mom and Dad are together. And they will be for as long as they can. That’s how it should be.