My mom is 91 and my dad turned 89 yesterday, and they have been living on their own in a small condo about an hour's drive from where I live. About two weeks ago I got a call that my dad had taken a fall and was in the hospital, and oh my goodness! Things have really moved fast since then!

My mom has osteoporosis and is very frail, and my dad has been taking care of her single-handedly. Turns out he'd been sick for two weeks and finally collapsed with a staph infection in his blood. He was one very sick guy. As for my mom, it became quite clear that she couldn't stay in the condo on her own, so she is in a nursing facility receiving physical and occupational therapy to get her walking better with her walker. Meanwhile, Dad was discharged from the hospital on Saturday (after a week and a half) and has been taken to a nursing facility about half an hour from my house for six weeks of IV antibiotics.

I realized that they can't live on their own any more, so my son and I spent last week searching for an assisted living place for them. We were fortunate enough to find one just 10 minutes up the road from my house, which is awesome. Then came the reality of packing them up and moving them, and on Thursday night I had a meltdown and realized I just. can't. do. it. on my own. So I have hired a company that specializes in moving seniors out of their homes and into assisted living. The downside is that can't happen until next week -- May 6. But I think it will be worth it because they will handle all of it from helping decide what to take, to setting up the new place, to even helping with the sale of the condo.

I have driven about 1,000 miles in the past week, I've only worked one day last week and planning on one or maybe two days this week, but things are moving along. I am so thankful that my son is here to help, and that my gentleman friend has been around to provide support and distraction and home-cooked dinners when I have a moment to breathe. And most of all I am incredibly thankful that my parents have enough money to pay for a nice assisted living place.

So... that is the reason I have been absent from the forum and am likely to be so for some time. And I am afraid the trip to Seattle on May 16 is unlikely to happen! But I am very happy to have a nice closet that allows me to look decent even when I don't have time to think about it! Missing you all and looking forward to spending quality time with you again very soon! XXX OOO