Wow, the universe has already started me off with story titles for stories I had not even experienced yet. This title says it all.
Divine order was certainly present and in control the entire time. Even in those moments of upset, I noticed how I chose to go take a few deep breathes and use skills we have learned. I found I would let the moment pass and be in that flow of gratitude.
This is the story of the magical journey we had moving my mom from long term care in Calgary to her first choice long term care residence in Strathmore. She was on the wait list for over a year.
Monday, August 28, 2017, we got the call on our answering machine. The ride started. Tuesday I called back and confirmed that yes we wanted the room. They were aiming for Thursday move in, as the next Monday was the labour day holiday.
More phone calls making arrangements, laundry done, bags packed, emails sent, flight booked. We were amazed and grateful of the timing for this adventure. The van has been in for repairs and we got a call Tuesday to come pick it up.
Mom was happy to hear the news that she was moving to Strathmore.
We usually drive to Calgary in our car or camper van, been a few years since we flew. We were grateful we did not have to drive as the BC interior forest fires have forced 1000's to evacuate their homes.
Wednesday we flew out from Vancouver on the 6:10 a.m. flight. Waited for the next flight from Vancouver to arrive to see if Ralphs lost luggage was on it. Yippee, it was. What a relief! We rented a car, stopped at McDonalds to eat and check emails on the way to see mom.
Note: We see the wait for the lost luggage put us in the right place in the right moment.... We arrived at moms just as she was finishing lunch, couldn't have been better timing. We were able to take her directly down to the business office on the 1st floor for the discharge process. Actually we were 15 minutes early, which was great as the gift shop was open for the 1st time in all our visits and we also got to wheel her around the courtyard outside one last time. (Sure is smokey here from all the BC forest fires.)
Back at moms room, Ralph decided we might as well pack a few things to take with us as we were staying with my cousins in Strathmore. No sense going with an empty car, right! I scrounged up boxes, packing tape and a dolly. I made some necessary phone calls and met with staff making arrangements.
By the time we left moms, the car was full. The only things left to move were the recliner chair, a desk and mom.
A funny moment was when Ralph said that the dresser was really heavy. He couldn't budge it. No problem, I let him know that the dresser was NOT moms, it belonged to George Boyack, it stays in the room, he didn't need to move it..... He had wondered if it was bolted to the floor....
Had a wonderful visit with my cousins and a fantastic nights sleep. Thursday morning they helped us unload the car load of stuff into moms new room. Their son said he would pick up the chair and desk that afternoon.
The only thing left was mom. Ralph and I headed for Calgary to pick her up with an oxygen tank from the new place. Amazing how many things cropped up that weren't on my radar system.
All moms belongings have been stored at my cousins shop here in Strathmore, and Wayne, Terri and their son hauled moms table and chairs, china cabinet, TV stand and so much more over to moms new 'suite'. Room already looks like she has been there for years.
Auntie Irene was at the front door to greet us as we drove up. Mom and I met with Trisha in administration for the moving-in paperwork.
Later when Auntie Irene was going back to her floor for dinner, she introduced me to a lady in the dining room that knows mom. The lady kept telling us she didn't get what we were saying.... I told mom about it.
Friday I noticed mom was at the same lunch table as the lady. I pulled up a chair and introduced mom to her and her to mom. I repeated what Auntie Irene had been trying to tell the lady. Jack, that owned the bakery, his daughter just moved in. Well, the light bulb turned on and they had a wonderful conversation. I learned that the lady's mom had a shoe store. She told mom that she can be proud of the bakery, that it was the best tasting baked goods. Mom said, "especially the donuts". The lady said, "well, did you bring some donuts" and we all laughed. When we left the lunch table, the lady said to me, "thank you for bringing back so many wonderful memories for me". My heart was singing and I feel truly blessed to have witnessed the moment.
More signs noticed. Mom's new phone number ends in 157. I remembered our phone number when I was growing up was 3157.
Main phone number at Sagewood is -8000, just like our friends back home.
Moms lawyers name ends in 'wood'.
I use the pen name Sage.
Saturday, Ralph and I met with his son and the family in Red Deer for the day. On the drive home there was a RV in front of us with the name - Discovery. We had been to Discovery Canyon Park for the day. And we were certainly on a discovery journey with mom.
On Sunday, we stopped at a garage sale on the way to moms. We bought a file cabinet and clock. Mom now has easier access to her files in a furniture looking cabinet that has her 'new' hearing device phone on it beside her recliner chair. The old metal file cabinet that had been in the closet, is now in the ' Garage Sale ' pile. My cousin and Ralph took the wheels off the china cabinet so it couldn't topple over. On the way back to my cousins where we were staying, we saw a flock of crows/ravens. They have been a comforting sign to me that my dad is around. Usually, I just see one.
More unpacking and arranging. Made connection with the other lady's daughter. Lots of cute heart warming stories. Monday the lady pulled me to her and kissed my cheek as she thanked me again. She hadn't met Ralph yet, and when I introduced him, she hugged and kissed his cheek also.
Labour Day Monday, we got pictures hung and more paperwork filled out. We had told her we would be back after dinner and had told her and the staff to put her in the recliner chair instead of bed. We found her sitting watching TV when we returned. We phoned her friend, Josie, to let her know she had moved. Mom had trouble hearing. First thing Tuesday morning we bought the new phone. It should make life much more enjoyable for her.
The RN helped me with more paperwork they needed and decided that mom and I needed to go back to Trisha in administration on Tuesday morning for help. We told mom we were leaving to fly home on Tuesday.
All the chores got completed Tuesday morning and when mom went for lunch, we said our goodbyes. We took the Shaw Modem back to the Shaw store at Sunridge Mall in Calgary on the way to the airport. We caught the delayed 6:10 p.m. flight home.
Back at home Wednesday morning, Ralph realized he had a retirees Union meeting to go to. I started the process of making change of address phone calls for my mom.
Sage
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