My Mom and I called them "little adventures." We went from whitewater rafting with the grandkids and climbing the mountain in Mexico to see the Monarchs to short road trips to favorite places to walks in the local conservatory in winter or wheelchair trips to the state fair. By the end of her life it was a trip to her favorite restaurant for a drink and share a meal or appetizer and finally just a short visit with great-grands riding up and down on her hospital bed, a card or dice game, or a musical visit from grandsons in the hospice.

Also many hours of reliving earlier adventures, with or without the photo albums. And we always tried to keep some flowers around, such a soothing place to rest the eyes and mind.

Does all of my rambling give you any ideas?

That filled my heart to read about your walk with music, you two with heads together doing a puzzle, the small talk at dinner. it brought tears to my eyes. Then to read sueinmn speaking of her Mom made me smile, to see her walking along the long, and then the short trail home with her. That's what my husband and I are doing. We do 'something' every day. We always talk about our day when it's over, and we talk about how grateful we are to have had this opportunity to live a long life together. This is a second marriage for each of us, and the first time around wasn't so wonderful, but he has a son, and I have two sons, and a daughter, and we are spending our 48th year together. We're both very different, and have different interests, but we support each other's interests and developed so many common interests, and we grew enormously in our relationship. I cry a little each day because I know it's coming to an end, but I smile more often than I cry. I wonder how he will do if I don't hang on long enough, as his memory becomes more challenged. He wonders who will bring in the newspaper for me every morning, and bring me my second cup of coffee. But then we plan our day, and do something outrageous, like plant a massive new garden (me using my Rollator and him following behind with his wheelbarrow and shovel). Or he goes to the corner and plays cribbage with his cronies, and I work on a design for a new project. My son had his company put in a fabulous new ramp for me yesterday, and you should see me cruising down that ramp. LOL. Have a wonderful day, because everyday we have to decide...will it be a good one, or a not so good one, and then figure out how to make it a good one with what we are handed. You did good girl! keep up the good work, and that means crying if you need too. It's OK. I am sending my love to you, and to anyone who read my messages.