One year ago today 1:30 pm

we were busy, Jill and Lue at the hospital with dad, waiting for discharge from the hospital. I was working, getting ready to leave to drive to the bailey house to make sure things were ready for dad to come home from the hospital. I was there to meet the nurse that was to be there to transition home. Her name was Ruby. I was there to meet the hospice agency
I was there when Dad called to see if I had $50 cash to tip the ambulance drivers who handled him so carefully. I did not of course have cash. So I sent matt to the store to get cash back from debit card at Albertsons. And, that did not work, so I sent him to Walgreens to buy two gift cards. And then, dad was resting comfortably as he could be and the ambulance drivers were waiting. I didn't want them to leave because I knew Dad wanted to give them something to say thanks for how good of a job they did. So, finally Matt got back with the gift cards and we gave them the gift cards to say thanks. And, then we answered the phone at the bailey house to receive a call from dad himself asking for the status of the his grits. And, as the night wore on, the bailey girls and bailey mom transitioned from daughters and wife to also medical care providers learning the ropes as we went along. Jill and Lue that night would get some much needed rest after Jill was first awakened to help figure out the morphine pump and talking on the line with the pump provider. steph would be up through the night with dad and then would leave the bailey house the next morning exhausted to come home to get ready for her daughter's birthday party. while she was at home celebrating with her daughter and her friends, Jill and Lue would get Dad up in the wheelchair and dad would spend some time in the kitchen looking around. Jill and Lue would normally not be in town for the birthday celebration but since they are they are not able to come to celebrate due the demands of all that is going on at bailey central. steph rests for a little bit and leaves to RUSH to pick up the cookie cake and arrives home to finish getting ready for the party minutes before the first guests arrive. Shower and change? Not an option, no time. And now, as we come up on the anniversary of many dates, we reflect and remember were were were last year at this time. We give thanks for the many memories, both good and bad. We are now learning how to be daugthers with just a mom and figure out those relationships and we are learning how to support mom as she figures out life without her companion. We are not liking this life but we know that we must figure out things and our way without him. It isn't easy, the holidays will be challenging times. I know personally, as I might have mentioned before, it would be fine with me to fast forward to January 1st. Hug your loved ones and let the little stuff go, because in the end, it is all just little stuff