Anyone who knows my mother knows she does not sit still. She is a Matriarch-o-holic, bakes up a storm, volunteers for everything, has a wild garden, is a neat freak, and has a million adoring grandchildren around her…
But when life changes routines change too. The shape of normal changes. Either one rolls into the new shape or wrestles with acceptance. My mom adjusted to the new shape of her changed life within a matter of seconds…. she is incredible when push comes to shove…she rolled as easy as cookie dough.
Though last weekend when my mom started not to feel so well the new shape of normal went through another change. (My mom has been staying with my father during the day, and as you know I have been staying with him at night.)
Since my mom wasn’t feeling well she continued to stay with my brother Marty and his wife Suzy. Yesterday when I went by to see how she was my sister in law said, "You won’t believe it, but your mom has changed." Without waiting for my response she continued, "Your mom was in her nightgown all day, watching movies (My mom never watches movies, let alone hangs out in her nightgown!) My sister in law went on to say, "And she caressed our cat on HER LAP!! " My mother does not like cats like most people don’t like mice. But when my sister in law added, "It gets better…. are you sitting down?" I was afraid to say anything, but Suzy continued regardless of my shock, "Your mom left the breakfast dishes in the sink!" 
The shape of normal seems to be ever changing. First my father enters the hospital, and now my mother is leaving the dirty breakfast dishes in the sink.
I long for some good old fashion normality.
note: My cousin Judy coined the expression "The new shape of normal." Plus my mother is doing better after five days of being sick in bed, watching movies, petting the cat and leaving the dishes dirty in the sink.
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