We have all experienced the pain of losing someone we hold dear—our choices about how and what we remember become significant in these moments. The power of our memory serves as a bridge, allowing us to delve deeper into our understanding of those we’ve lost, even in their absence. As believers, we hold onto the faith and expectation that we will one day reunite with them. I often liken these acts of remembrance to carve…
3 CommentsCategory: Elder Education
Originally posted in June 2020 In honor of Father’s Day and my dear Dad, Frank Andrews whose 101st bday is June 30th, I share a series on Frank features. Music Memories My dad believed in and loved the power of music. I remember my dad usually singing to one of his children. I often recall hearing him break out in this silly song together. The ukelele was Dad’s instrument. He would often break out his…
4 CommentsI struggle to listen. I have spent years reading, teaching, and practicing active listening, but I still struggle. Some friends would claim I am a good listener, but I know my inner struggle to attend and listen. This struggle showed up powerfully on a recent visit to my 91-year-old mother. My mom, Maxine, is declining. She no longer can link my name to her memory, but when I walk in the room with my husband,…
1 CommentVisiting my 88-year-old mother is part of my weekly rhythm. I don’t know what she’ll remember about dad or our long history together. That is no longer distressing as it makes for good improv. Whatever my mother says I can say, “Yes and… “ and run with it. There is one string of thought, however, that can be relied on. That happens when my mother remembers the house, her house now my house. It is…
Leave a CommentThe doors opened, we got in, and turned around. Suddenly we heard a very loud and authoritative, “Hold that elevator!” As the doors hung open, a white-haired, wheel-chaired, older gentleman scooted towards us astonishingly quickly and efficiently with his feet. Zip! and he was in the elevator. It had been a late-night visit with my mother at her assisted-living community. Mom had a broken hip, and we were checking in on the newly hired…
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