Bit by Bit

Adding to the sadness and loss of this wacky time we’re all living in is Mom’s slipping away. It’s a normal part of dementia’s progression, but it is truly brutal, especially since we’ve not been able to visit her for the past six weeks or so.

The wonderful staff at her memory care residence have scheduled four short video chats for us each week, so my brothers and I can at least see her and talk to her. She’s not able to converse and often doesn’t engage at all, except perhaps for a word or two or maybe a smile or a kiss. Two minutes into our call earlier this week, she stood up from her chair in front of the camera and moved about her room, mostly out of my view. I pulled up an Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong duet on YouTube, so she could listen although I have no idea if she did.

On the knitting front, I’ve finished the first sock of my latest pair. Vanilla Latte pattern in a lovely speckled yarn that I can’t for the life of me remember the name of!

I’m pleased to have remembered to make the leg about 2in/5cm longer than usual. I’m generally so eager to get to the heel flap that I shortchange the leg — and who wants a short sock?

Here’s hoping that I do the same on the second sock!