Two more days, and I will have survived my parents' three-week visit.

In a nutshell ....

- My 85-year-old mother with Alzheimers has been a peach. She is happy, wonderful, easy to care for but a lot of work, and wholly unpredictable. I have been able to plan nothing. I have to just see how she is from minute to minute, which is difficult because I am a planner. I've just had to let that go. I'm also a doer. I've had to let that go too. Sometimes I just sit with her for long stretches. Difficult, really difficult in some ways ... but on the other hand, I love being with her, and this time has been an amazing gift I am lucky to have had.
- My 87-year-old father has been a challenge (as he always is). Very loving, but very manipulative, and still worrying us all by spending every waking moment on a business idea he has been trying to get off the ground for 20 years. We have to watch carefully to make sure no more money goes into this pit. Easily the toughest part of the entire visit.
- My credit card is groaning, as shopping has been a release. I have returned a lot but have basically spent July's AND August's AND some of September's money this month.

As a person who typically spends a lot of time alone, and who really enjoys being alone, I am looking forward to sitting in a silent house and being able to do something -- anything -- on a whim again -- anything other than online shop, which was quite literally the only thing I could do easily since I could not leave my parents on their own, even alone in a room. But I do know that I will also miss them. It's difficult.

I'm looking forward to MsMary's Ascetic challenge for August, to embracing style again, and to shopping my closet. Thanks YLF for being a refuge this past few weeks, and I apologize to all for not being a very thoughtful commenter.

xxxx Vivian