Vegging Out

I am in Palm Desert, alone (Howard arrives later).  Im lucky to have the leisure time to relax after what we figured was 5 years of worry and stress with our mother's health.  It does seem like a void, though.  I still have some guilt, thinking I have to call her.  I missed her last Sunday.  We used to watch the Academy Awards together via phone.  We would start at 3:00 to critique the gowns and hairstyles on the Red Carpet. We would call each other back and forth with our comments.  We would do the same with the actual Oscar Show.  It wasn't as much fun this year.

End of Life

Well,the time has come. Mom will pass any time now. I can't get over Hospice Care. She suffered a great deal of agitation, trying to get out of bed, yelling, etc., all while semi conscious. She is now sedated, but hospice has her under crisis care, where they provide nursing care 24 hours a day until they think it is safe for her to be cared for by her caregiver alone. All of this is paid for by Medicare. Thank heaven for Medicare. My children came to say goodbye, and they were very emotional about her imminent death. Of course, I expected them to react that way. They are very lucky to have a grandmother well into their forties and early fifties. She means a lot to them. So it's a waiting game.....I'm glad she is no longer in pain and can die in peace.

Photo Album

Grand Tetons, Wyoming

I find myself with nothing much to write about, so I looked through some of my photos to come up with a few of my favorite ones.  The Grand Tetons shoot straight up towards the sky.  Truly magnificent.  We saw a herd of elk crossing a river at dusk, and buffalo by the side of the road.  Love that trip, we will return.
This is a photo of the red rocks at Sedona, and our casita at the resort.  The Enchantment Resort is nestled into the rocks, so that it isn't even seen until you drive a way up the road.  Breathtaking.

Enchantment Resort, Sedona Arizona

 On our Panama Canal Cruise, this is a head-on view of our ship about to enter the locks.  It is a very slow process, as the locks have to close to let the water rise for the ship ahead of us.  A remarkable feat, the Panama Canal.

Approaching the Locks, Panama Canal

 While I was stopped at a traffic light, I saw this horse poke his head out of the window.  He stayed that way for a long time.  I guess we people were more interesting than what was inside.

Why Isn't The Traffic Moving?