It was a different Christmas – no tree or presents and other that my sister who came up from Houston not much family.  Mom is transitioning as the hospice people describe it.  Of course that means she is dying.  Christmas started early for my sister and I as we had to deal with a couple of events in the early hours of Christmas day that included a call to hospice.  It was good to have my sister here for a few days but I will be on my own for 19 hours a day starting tomorrow.

I am thankful that I have the opportunity to help my mother through this transition in her home.  My father did not have that option.  I am thankful for the caregivers that come in for five hours a day especially the one that is here 4 days a week.  She was here on Christmas day and we included her in our Christmas dinner.   Until I had interaction with the agency that supplies the caregivers and the home hospice people I really didn’t know there was so much empathy in the world.

So my Christmas was different  but not in an unrewarding way and I can only hope that your Christmas was just as rewarding.