On this overcast and freezing morning we might rather be in Fort Myers.  But as ready as we may be, we remain in PA at least until Thursday.  Still, we perceive a successful outcome to a battle of sorts that we have been engaged in for almost a month.

Dad Strehl is to be discharged from the rehab hosptial on Wednesday.  He may be ready to die, but his body is not quite ready to give up.

Mom, realizing that she could not manage him and the home, agreed last week to a move to Autumn House where she may live "independently" but he will be provided "assisted living."  She signed the contract yesterday, but does not want to move in until Wednesday.  We encouraged she settle in tomorrow "to learn the ropes" before the challenge of Dad's arrival.  She insists on two more nights in her house.  So be it.

Meanwhile, a cousin e-mailed two days ago reporting a plan to visit a daughter at college in Virginia.  She indicated that she could take my mother's big brother John and his wife Stella along and drop them off at York to visit my parents.  We screamed - how can we handle this! then calmly discussed the proposal with Mom and my sister Laurie.  The latter said she could take off Monday and would stay with our mother and the guests tonight.  Anne and I spent Yesterday in York and will return there shortly bearing lasagna.  We will also go in tomorrow when Mom's furniture will be moved.  My cousin will return to pick up her parents who will possibly make their last good-by's to my parents.  That will be a blessed, joyous, and sad event.

With a bit of luck, my Dad will remain stable and have a comfortable move on Wednesday.  We will insure that he and Mom are set and go home to pack the car for Florida.  Mary Helen will be there with Mom and Dad Woods.  We look forward to joining her in providing gracious support and sharing the company of all there.

We may be more house-bound this year, but will still enjoy watching cormorants, mottled ducks, ibis, and herons about Heritage Cove.  One of us may be forced home if there is a crisis in York, but otherwise will stay until March.  Our schedule will be determined in part by plan and in part by events.  We are fortunate to have made the time and resources to be able to provide support to parents near the end. 

The weather graced us with almost a week of mild days in January.  For that we are most thankful.  But now we are hopeful of safety for my parents when we depart.  A battle is successfully concluded in the face of changing conditions, unexpected attacks, mistakes, and the typical fog of crisis.  The "war" is not over, but the turning point of this campaign seems to have been my mother's agreeing to the move.  Without that there would have been no end in sight to the uncertainty and demand for our being here.  I certainly did not want to have to send Anne to Florida alone.  Now that should not happen. 

We are grateful to be able to maintain some sense of order, and hope that the experience of the past month will better enable us to manage future crises that are sure to come.  Certainly there will be unpleasantry, but we want to be able to provide comfort, support, and what joy we can to those who have given us so much.  When an end comes we hope it can be made comfortable and without terror.  Sadly we mere mortals must all face the end at some point, but making life good, dying is only the last thing we must do.  And so, we make what joy we can and see what tomorrow brings.