Early morning, late evening. Sometimes it’s hard to tell the difference from a photo. Sometimes it’s hard to tell the difference in life.
Dementia is perhaps the worst way to leave this world. Little by little, one loses one’s self well before one loses one’s life. At first it’s just forgetting little things. But later it’s major things, including not knowing where you are and not recognizing family. Having your mom not know you is, shall we say, humbling.
Early last week, a series of events led to a family decision, in accordance with her wishes, to let their mom go. With family gathered around, sharing memories, with laughter and tears, the hospital staff removed the ventilator and let a beloved mother, grandmother, sister pass on. Fair winds Betty Faye.
The week before, we had taken a couple of days to move Kotona back upstream, to a marina closer to the house. Departing early New Year’s Day, we made it from Bay Springs Lake, back up the Divide Cut, to Pickwick Lake. The second day we continued upriver to Florence. Lock delays and some serious cold weather encouraged us to leave the boat there on Saturday. We got the call on Sunday.
In between memorial preparation and other arrangements, a few days after Betty Faye’s passing, we took a couple of hours to check on Kotona. Sitting at the dock, we pondered the circle of life. Endings and beginnings. Betty Faye would say her life was wonderful. It was not without some hardships and loss but she came through it with grace. Amy reflected on life lessons she had been taught by her mom. And eventually she came back to a conversation she and her mom had several years ago, before the dementia started.
“You should go, while you’re young enough to enjoy it.” Those words have taken on a new meaning. It was good advice at the time; but now, it is a way to honor her memory and her life. So we will. Does the closing of one life circle, start a new circle? Maybe, maybe not. But for us at least, maybe it starts a new chapter, in our circle. Cruising has been calling for a while now. A wise woman told us we should go. And we shall.
Dementia is perhaps the worst way to leave this world. Little by little, one loses one’s self well before one loses one’s life. At first it’s just forgetting little things. But later it’s major things, including not knowing where you are and not recognizing family. Having your mom not know you is, shall we say, humbling.Early last week, a series of events led to a family decision, in accordance with her wishes, to let their mom go. With family gathered around, sharing memories, with laughter and tears, the hospital staff removed the ventilator and let a beloved mother, grandmother, sister pass on. Fair winds Betty Faye.
The week before, we had taken a couple of days to move Kotona back upstream, to a marina closer to the house. Departing early New Year’s Day, we made it from Bay Springs Lake, back up the Divide Cut, to Pickwick Lake. The second day we continued upriver to Florence. Lock delays and some serious cold weather encouraged us to leave the boat there on Saturday. We got the call on Sunday.
In between memorial preparation and other arrangements, a few days after Betty Faye’s passing, we took a couple of hours to check on Kotona. Sitting at the dock, we pondered the circle of life. Endings and beginnings. Betty Faye would say her life was wonderful. It was not without some hardships and loss but she came through it with grace. Amy reflected on life lessons she had been taught by her mom. And eventually she came back to a conversation she and her mom had several years ago, before the dementia started.
“You should go, while you’re young enough to enjoy it.” Those words have taken on a new meaning. It was good advice at the time; but now, it is a way to honor her memory and her life. So we will. Does the closing of one life circle, start a new circle? Maybe, maybe not. But for us at least, maybe it starts a new chapter, in our circle. Cruising has been calling for a while now. A wise woman told us we should go. And we shall.
