Harv isn’t so sure about the  new carrier I’m going to try out tomorrow. 🙂

Yesterday was a bit of a scramble, but when the dust settled, my sister that lives in Ohio and I had both booked tickets to fly home for Grandma’s funeral on Monday. I’ll be flying with Harvey (flights #1-#4, coming right up!), but I decided to leave Stella here in Colorado with her Dad for Father’s Day (and save us the cost of a 2nd airline seat). I am SO happy that all 5 of us siblings will be together in MN this weekend, just to be there for our grandfather and Mom more than anyone else.

At any rate, last night Charlie and I were talking logistics for taking care of Stella while I was gone, and I realized that I have never been away from Stella for more than 2 nights. I’ve only done that once, and it was when I was about 8w pregnant with Harvey and absolutely wiped out, and it’s actually the weekend I ended up weaning Stella cold turkey while she stayed with her grandparents 15 minutes away from us. For this trip I’ll be gone 3 nights and I’ll be out of the state. It’s a little bittersweet to realize that Stella is getting old enough that it didn’t even cross my mind to worry about leaving her for a few nights. That being said, I’m a little freaked out about how much I’ll miss her. Obviously I know she’ll be well taken care of with her Dad, though I’m a little curious how he’ll handle 24/7 toddler care on his own. This will probably be a good experience for all of us… 😉

And finally, I leave you with a poem. One of my Mom’s best friends sent her this, and it’s pretty amazing, especially to anyone who has ever lost their Mom to Alzheimer’s long before the physical death happened.

*****

Two Mothers Remembered
by Joann Snow Duncanson

I had two Mothers – two Mothers I claim
Two different people, yet with the same name.

Two separate women, diverse by design,
But I loved them both because they were mine.

The first was the Mother who carried me here,
Gave birth and nurtured and launched my career.

She was the one whose features I bear,
Complete with the facial expressions I wear.

She gave me her love, which follows me yet,
Along with the examples in life that she set.

As I got older, she somehow younger grew,
And we’d laugh as just Mothers and daughters should do.

But then came the time that her mind clouded so,
And I sensed that the Mother I knew would soon go.

So quickly she changed and turned into the other,
A stranger who dressed in the clothes of my Mother.

Oh, she looked the same, at least at arm’s length,
But now she was the child and I was her strength.

We’d come full circle, we women three,
My Mother the first, the second and me.

And if my own children should come to a day,
When a new Mother comes and the old goes away.

I’d ask of them nothing that I didn’t do.
Love both of your Mothers as both have loved you.