The Andover Adventure 2021

 Sunday, February 21, our family got together for Mom's 94th Birthday.  My three brothers , Thomas, Will and Steve were here with us.  Pamela, our sister from Florida, wasn't able to be with us.  We had appetizers (thanks to Will and Sooz) and wine in Mom's "gathering room" then a roast Pork dinner (thanks to our live in Chef Peter) in the dining room followed by a Whole Food's Oreo Cake (thanks to Thomas).  It was the first time since Mom's birthday last year and the Covid since we have been together as a family!!! This past week has been a difficult one for us as Mom seems to be less and less able to differentiate from the past to the present. Most days she doesn't recognize me as her daughter, but as the lady that works here, and she keeps asking me where I live and what company do I work for.  She can not comprehend that Peter is my husband, which causes a few uncomfortable moments when we say we are going upstairs to bed 😕.  She thinks he should ...

 I know, I know, it has been a really long time, and everyone is anxious to know how their two favorite Floridians are doing in cold, snowy New England.  Well it isn't wonderful!!  Friends of ours from Orlando, texted 2 days ago saying they had just left the pool.......so what, I just took the dog out for 15 minutes so she could poop in the foot deep snow!!!  AND I could make a snowman if I was dumb enough to spend that much time outside.  Are you getting the picture ??? Actually, we have settled in quite nicely.  I get up 2 or 3 times every night to calm my mom down.  She keeps wanting to go home.  Her "home" is where she grew up, not where she has lived for the last 63 years.  The monitor I installed is great and lets me know when she needs someone to bring her back to reality, but it is very disruptive to sleep.  But that is why we are here!!  Right?!? I am slowly learning how to start the wood stove in the morning.  I am no...