| presents excerpts from |
ISBN 0-9778140-0-9
326 pages, 68 photographs.
326 pages, 68 photographs.
....If in any way I’ve implied that my decision to return to
Indianapolis was difficult, that was not the case at all. Since
Dad tended to exaggerate and overreact in his later years, I
just had to take some time to evaluate the immediacy of
their need for me to be there for caregiving. I knew that he
was becoming more physically limited, but figured that
maybe my sisters could help with what errands might come
up. After seeing his condition in June 1990, I knew that the
old warrior was truly deteriorating.
Now, since Dad had suddenly died, and Mother was left
alone with her memory problem, I had absolutely no
hesitation in choosing to move back and help her in
whatever way I could. I did not think of it as a sacrifice in
any way. Simply put, if I hadn’t moved back to take care of
her, I couldn’t have lived with myself.
My life in Los Angeles was pleasant, and I enjoyed friends
and the Southern California lifestyle, especially being close
to the beach. I was able to do some volunteer work, so my
life didn’t seem so self-centered. However, that life paled in
value when compared with the possibility of helping my
mother through this most difficult period of her life. Not
only was she my mother and the person who had done
more for me than anyone else on earth, she was also the
kindest and finest person I’d ever known.
On hearing my news of leaving, a friend in L.A. somewhat
jokingly said, “I can understand that you want to help your
mother, but to actually live with her?”
“Well,” I replied, “if my mother was difficult, I’d still feel
responsible for her, but I wouldn’t live with her. Sanity is
too precious for that. But Mother is quite the opposite of
difficult. She’s a gentle, loving, and considerate person who
benefits everyone she comes in contact with.”
How can we not take care of our parents in their hour of
need? This especially applies to a Mother—the symbol of
what’s right with the world. A Mother may be the most
sacred symbol of all in this life. It’s no wonder that....
Indianapolis was difficult, that was not the case at all. Since
Dad tended to exaggerate and overreact in his later years, I
just had to take some time to evaluate the immediacy of
their need for me to be there for caregiving. I knew that he
was becoming more physically limited, but figured that
maybe my sisters could help with what errands might come
up. After seeing his condition in June 1990, I knew that the
old warrior was truly deteriorating.
Now, since Dad had suddenly died, and Mother was left
alone with her memory problem, I had absolutely no
hesitation in choosing to move back and help her in
whatever way I could. I did not think of it as a sacrifice in
any way. Simply put, if I hadn’t moved back to take care of
her, I couldn’t have lived with myself.
My life in Los Angeles was pleasant, and I enjoyed friends
and the Southern California lifestyle, especially being close
to the beach. I was able to do some volunteer work, so my
life didn’t seem so self-centered. However, that life paled in
value when compared with the possibility of helping my
mother through this most difficult period of her life. Not
only was she my mother and the person who had done
more for me than anyone else on earth, she was also the
kindest and finest person I’d ever known.
On hearing my news of leaving, a friend in L.A. somewhat
jokingly said, “I can understand that you want to help your
mother, but to actually live with her?”
“Well,” I replied, “if my mother was difficult, I’d still feel
responsible for her, but I wouldn’t live with her. Sanity is
too precious for that. But Mother is quite the opposite of
difficult. She’s a gentle, loving, and considerate person who
benefits everyone she comes in contact with.”
How can we not take care of our parents in their hour of
need? This especially applies to a Mother—the symbol of
what’s right with the world. A Mother may be the most
sacred symbol of all in this life. It’s no wonder that....
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Copyright ©2006 Heydon Buchanan. All Rights Reserved.
| CHAPTER 2 RETURNING HOME |
Love doesn’t hide. It stays and fights. It goes
the distance, that’s why love is so strong. So it
can carry you all the way home.
—Unknown