Thursday, March 13, 2014 

Huge windstorm last night. Tough sleeping, but my new pillow is making me quite comfortable. Alas, Rob (and Betty’s husband, Charlie) had little sleep. The men are sensitive to such noise. Rob’s room can get far too noisy in a windstorm. He is trying to nap even now. 

Temps dropped precipitately last night. Quite cold. Below freezing to be sure, and the wind chills are horrible. I need to collect the garbage bins. 

Whoa! Received a return phone call from the Sisters of Saint Joseph of Chestnut Hill: Sister Margaret Mary Smith. She was two years behind me at Holy Family Academy. We exchanged stories about the sisters, her experience as a Novice, and the sisters who taught us. How I loved them. How I still love them. And we talked about mom and my turn as her keeper. 

Mom was in pretty bad shape this morning. Poop down her legs and on her clothing. I showered her, or tried, but I think she didn’t realize that she was pushing. Oh well, I kept cleaning, then made her sit on the toilet. It wasn’t easy. As I told Sr. Margaret Mary, you want your mother to be your mother. Still, it’s my turn, and I had better learn to do this caregiving gracefully and thankfully.