Wednesday, February 9, 2014 

I feel like a miser. When I prepare mom’s lunch or dinner plates, I put so little on her plate that I feel as though I am cheating her of some wonderful food. But she rarely finishes anything, and I wind up throwing so much out. She has not been very hungry lately, something I can understand. It’s summer. My appetite lessens in summer, too. Much too warm to eat heartily. But I joined the Rodale food coop and I am laden with an abundance of wonderful organic vegetables and greens every week. On pickup day, I come home and check out recipes. Then I begin slicing, dicing, steaming, stir frying, puréeing… you name it. Even bought a steel wok for the occasion. Although half the share belongs to a friend, we still have enough to keep our household of three very well fed and satisfied. We have an abundance of soups right now—cucumber, avocado, and yogurt soup; zucchini soup; and swiss chard soup. And yet, mom won’t eat or she eats very little. She just had a cup of zucchini soup and left only a small amount at the bottom.

I am bringing her to Rittenhouse for respite while I am on my reunion weekend. For the last two years, four of us get together for a summer weekend away. This is our third year, and I am preparing mom for a weekend away to give Rob time off, too; although, he still has the pups to contend with. And another friend has been asking me to join his family down at the shore for the past three years. Thus far, I have been unable to go. This year, I am hoping to bring mom to Rittenhouse for another night away to permit me to spend a night down at the Jersey shore. She might enjoy spending time with others, rather than falling asleep in her rocking chair. It’s hard to say what her reaction will be. We shall soon find out.