So, the purpose of our stay in Fonthill is two fold.  First to visit my mother and help her settle into a new life.  Second to clean up and dispose of her old life.  To explain for anyone who doesn’t already know.  My 89 year old mother was living in a 4-level split house, that was too much for her to maintain and too lonely for her.  

We had her on the wait list for a subsidized seniors, independent living, apartment to almost 5 years.  The main reason was, and is, that these apartments on the town square in Fonthill are some of the nicest I’ve come across for seniors and the place has a great reputation.  Its not a new building, but is very well maintained, bright and cheerful.  There are 64 apartments, and only two men in the building.  The ladies, at least the ones I have met, are a great bunch.  Cheerful.  Active. Always saying hello.  They have quite a few organized activities including coffee once a week, lunch a couple of times a month (once here organized by Meals on Wheels and they put a list up so people can sign up to go out as a group to various places) and things like bingo or cards.

Mom has a lovely apartment, one bedroom, a kitchen with space for a small table and chairs, or in her case her sewing machine and chairs, a storage room, and a good size living room with a lovely patio and private little garden.  Jack mounted a new TV on the wall so she can sew or eat and watch her shows. Its actually much nicer than our place, especially the outside.

Cousin Jenny and husband Jess have done a wonderful job of moving Mom and getting her set up in her new place.  Hey not only did an amazing amount of work, they also put up with her sour attitude and constant complaining.  They set the apartment up and it is very well done.  Jenny has a “touch” when it comes to setting out rooms, and gardens.

Only trouble is Mom is having a really hard time with the move.  She says its too small, she doesn’t know where anything is, there is no where to put anything, and on - and on.  Its actually rather sad.  She is making herself very unhappy, and frustrating everyone she comes in contact with.  We all understand, but it gets very hard to not tell her to buck up and look at the all the good things, instead of constantly dwelling on the negative.  I do hope she can turn it around.

Its been a tough time for me.  Jack has been off.  As in not feeling well and just not his usual cheerful self - says I tongue in cheek. He had an "incident" in Idaho that almost had me calling 911 and has never recovered. Last week he went to Ottawa for five days to golf with Terry - that gave me a break from trying to balance between keeping him and Mom in a decent frame of mind.  I know they both have issues and am bumbling through trying to be understanding and helpful in my own ineffectual way.

One thing I have been grateful for is that some help that came my way from my cousin Susan and her husband, Finn.  They took a lot of stuff out of Mom’s house and helped pack up a whole lot more.  Today the Diabetes Association came with their truck and took 30 plus, boxes and big bags full of  “Stuff” for Value Village.  On Saturday some of the furniture went. Then today the Junk Guys came for the trash.  We are heading home on Wednesday.

Its been kind of nice to connect with family a bit.  Jack is staying at cousin Jenny & Jesse’s place.  I’m staying at Mom’s “camping” on the floor of her living room.  While Jack and Jess were off golfing (not together) we had a girl’s night with Aunt Ann, Mom, Jenny, my sister-in-law Sandra who dropped in from Victoria, BC.  She’s on a road trip across Canada.

My Uncle Phil and Donna had us over for dinner.  Cousin Leslie dropped by for a visit.  We had coffee with Aunt Ann and Peter a few times.  She had a root canal Tuesday and surgery on her back today.  We’re waiting to hear how she got on.

Latest “news” is that our travelling companions, the Rogers, purchased a Class A RV.   Should be an interesting trip home.  Hope Russ gets lots of practice between now and then.  Haven’t seen much of them since we arrived here three weeks ago but I think they are enjoying family time and being here. 

Its been an interesting time here in Fonthill with lots of up, downs, challenges and small victories.

Hope I can get through the next few days with grace and deliver what the people around me seem to need. 

Julie