Talks Too Much

Moms and daughters seem to have a special bond that I can’t truly understand.

I’m not a daughter, nor do I have a daughter, but I’ve seen enough of these mother-daughters combos to know they can be pretty special. Although I think the “special” part usually comes a little bit later in life, after they get past the “You’re-Mean-And-You-Embarrass-Me-And-I-Can’t-Stand-You-And-Don’t-Pick-Me-Up-In-Front-Of-The-School-And-Oh-By-The-Way-I-Need-A-Hundred-Dollars-For-A-New-Pair-Of-Jeans” phase.

My sister doesn’t get as much Mom Time with our mother as she would like because she lives in Michigan and my folks are here in Florida. I guess they normally see each other three or four times a year, but it’s been more this year because Mom is sick with The Cancer and Sherry has ramped up the visits. For the last month or so they’ve been focused on Labor Day, which is when Mom and Dad are scheduled to spend a week in Michigan with Sherry and my brother-in-law, Gary.

The plan is to stay four or five days at a big house that Sherry and Gary rented up north on Grand Traverse Bay. The place has westerly views for great sunsets across the water, a lot of trees, a nice walkway down to the beach, and a fire pit that should be perfect for roasting marshmallows. All four of Sherry and Gary’s kids will be at the house with their spouses –or in the case of my youngest nephew, his fiance.

There will also be a day or two spent at my sister’s place before and after the beach-house trip. She and Gary live in an incredibly peaceful setting out in the woods not far from where we grew up. Mom is happy just hanging out there on the deck, chatting and drinking coffee. She and Sherry are both so excited to spend the week together, and a few days ago Mom told me in no uncertain terms: “I AM going on this trip.”

That was Saturday.

Then today … Monday … I called to see how Mom was feeling after going for an MRI this morning. To be clear, I know the MRI is painless. But it is noisy and stressful. Mom has been increasingly tired, and I thought the experience might be a little draining. When I called this afternoon, Dad said Mom wasn’t feeling great and she was taking a nap.

Sherry texted me and said he told her the same thing when she called.

There was another text from Sherry as I was driving home from work. Now Mom says she aches all over, and for the first time is saying she might not be up for the plane ride next week.

My sis is very spiritual, and immediately sent out a request to her prayer chain. She just wants Mom to feel strong enough to make this trip. Mom loves Summer and Fall in Michigan, and she’s been looking forward to this trip for more than a month. It would be really great if she could make it in spite of her illness.

I don’t have a prayer chain, but I do have you guys. So if you’re so inclined, please offer up a little something on her behalf.

S’mores on the beach might be just what she needs.