Dad's memorial service was held on Saturday, Feb. 7th. The following Monday, Val and I started the task of packing up Willow Way and getting Mum ready to move to Rosedale, her new digs. It was hard work, it was fun and it was oh-so rewarding.
Anne was a total trouper who made fast decisions about what to keep, what to toss and what to pass along.
Val spent hours packing up books for the local library, and more hours packing up toys for the neighbours, and more hours packing up donations for pick-up by the Cerebral Palsy association. The driveway was half-filled (just about) with the boxes for CP.
In addition, friends and neighbours all stepped forward to claim their favourite table or sofa or piece of art. Between the whole community village, we winnowed down the possessions to a manageable quantity that the movers then trucked over to Rosedale.
These pics give you a sense of Mum's new apartment on the third floor; it faces north/north-west and is well situated to view life on the street. Val and I spent three nights there and, by the time we left on Sunday the 22nd, it was beginning to feel like home to Anne. Phew!
This week, Katy is there with Mum getting her truly settled in. Putting pictures and paintings up on the wall is something that will happen next.
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| The entry way; front door is right behind you (as it were). |
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| From the kitchen looking across the half-wall towards the living room. |
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| Bedroom, where that box in the right corner has now been replaced with a snazzy new desk from IKEA - see below. |
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| The apartment is just 631 sq feet, so each room has multiple functions; the bedroom will serve as a study/office, also. |
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| Mum reading the weekend paper; that red chair will be replaced by a new reclining arm chair come spring. |
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| Jennifer came for supper on Friday. The four of us easily fit into the living room for conversation before the meal. Jennie is sitting on the new sofa bed that Val and I bought for Mum from Sears in Winnipeg and which was shipped to Edmonton from their warehouse in Calgary! |
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| From the living room into the kitchen; it's a good size, so easy to get around with a walker. |
2 comments:
I had gotten out of touch with your blog, Amanda - but now see that so much has happened. So sorry to hear about the loss of your dad. You and your family put a lot of love and work into resettling your mom. I've been through that, and know how draining and emotional it can be - yet rewarding in the end.
Such beautiful photos of your lovely family. Hope you are all well.
Pamela
I'm grateful for this blog, Amanda - your mother was one of my best friends, in Montreal, before you were born. Very sorry to hear of your father's death but happy that Anne is comfortably settled. Would you pass on my Gmail address to her? I know she hates writing, but I'd love to hear from her - and promise no bereavement truisms.
Nan Kennedy
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