The Squashed Bologna: a slice of life in the sandwich generation

Makes me wish that they built all hospital rooms s...

2012-06-02T09:44:25.655-04:00

Makes me wish that they built all hospital rooms so that all the beds faced the windows. Even those of us without all of the complications your mother has get disoriented while in the hospital. Praying for a smooth recovery and a window bed soon.

Oh boy, Varda, sorry to hear about this. I hope he...

2012-06-02T07:37:16.892-04:00

Oh boy, Varda, sorry to hear about this. I hope her recovery goes smoothly and faster than you expected.

Hang in there. It's not easy I know. xxx

2012-06-02T07:35:06.632-04:00

Hang in there. It's not easy I know. xxx

I'm so glad to hear that your mother is improv...

2012-06-01T18:27:34.496-04:00

I'm so glad to hear that your mother is improving. I've been thinking of you two.

Well if you like memoirs you will LOVE Composed. T...

2012-06-01T16:44:30.626-04:00

Well if you like memoirs you will LOVE Composed. The writing is luminous and the stories fabulous and interesting. Rosanne has a lot of insight into herself but also really knows how to let details and images tell a story, too..

Thank you. Happy to take all the magic that comes...

2012-06-01T16:39:59.325-04:00

Thank you. Happy to take all the magic that comes our way.

I understand. I am so sorry that you bear pain tha...

2012-06-01T16:38:49.539-04:00

I understand. I am so sorry that you bear pain that echoes my own. Thank you so much for your well wishes and sending hugs back to you.

Thank you. She continues to be on the mend.

2012-06-01T16:36:48.821-04:00

Thank you. She continues to be on the mend.

Oh, Alexandra. The love is so mutual. Wearing you...

2012-06-01T16:33:53.221-04:00

Oh, Alexandra. The love is so mutual. Wearing your necklace this past week has meant more to me than I could ever express, every time I look down at it or feel it swing out and back I think of you and our marvelous time in San Diego last summer. Although a few minutes ago I just accidentally dipped it in the peach yogurt I was feeding my mother. So then the necklace reminded me of peaches. Tasty

Impossible for me to tell you how much you mean to...

2012-06-01T14:55:56.595-04:00

Impossible for me to tell you how much you mean to me and how highly I think of you.

You're like this nebulous dream of what I'd like to be like.

Your honesty, your authentic living, your out loud love for others.

You mean the world to me.

I hope she continues to progress. I just read Je...

2012-06-01T12:53:20.803-04:00

I hope she continues to progress.
I just read Jenny's book and I loved it so much. And I have no connection to her, other than I want to be her when I grow up (and I'm pretty sure she's younger than me so I'm not sure how I'll work that out..).
I've been wanting to read Composed, I'm glad you mentioned it. I am obsessed with memoirs.

Hi Varda. So great to read that you and your mom ...

2012-06-01T12:28:28.166-04:00

Hi Varda. So great to read that you and your mom are hanging in there and on the mend. I had happened to stumble upon your blog one day (who is that squashed woman who is caretaker of her parents, like I was?) and then just a day later when closing out all the windows I had left open, read of the sudden emergency. It brought back so much pain and empathy that indeed, this is the way it often happens as we age - boom, you go down in a fall or boom, the cat scan is not good and suddenly you are yanked into the world of living in the hospital. I prayed for you and your mom, for peace and freedom from pain, and will continue to read here and send healing thoughts your way to be part of the magic that seems to be working!

A broken hip is where my journey of becoming my mo...

2012-06-01T09:10:21.672-04:00

A broken hip is where my journey of becoming my mom's caretaker began. As much as I love reading your words, I apologize for not being here very often. Sometimes they hit me so hard as I remember a moment like that with mom, and I miss her, so desperately. Sending you well wishes and prayers for your mom's speedy recovery.

I hope you both have a peaceful weekend. xxx

2012-06-01T09:05:37.508-04:00

I hope you both have a peaceful weekend. xxx

The first thing my mother did when she emerged fro...

2012-06-01T02:50:21.906-04:00

The first thing my mother did when she emerged from her open-heart surgery a few years ago is flip the bird at the ventilator on her mouth. My sister and I, perched at her bedside, took this middle finger gesture as a very, very good sign. Mom, of course, doesn't remember it. Ah Varda, the roller-coaster. Brutal doesn't even do justice...all of us who read & love you are sending positive energies to you and your mom.

I'm so sorry! My heart goes out to you and I w...

2012-05-31T15:18:18.936-04:00

I'm so sorry! My heart goes out to you and I will keep you and your mom in my prayers! Stopping by from yeah Write.

I wish you strength during this difficult time. Be...

2012-05-31T02:27:10.730-04:00

I wish you strength during this difficult time. Be there as much as you can for her, as hard as it may be.

There is no comfortable way to watch a mother go. ...

2012-05-30T22:55:57.410-04:00

There is no comfortable way to watch a mother go. I've been talking about this with a friend who is dealing with exactly the same thing you are right now. Mine went too young, too fast. And yours, and my friend's, you watch them decline. Is one way easier than the other? Neither is easier. It's the same in the end, loss. I feel for you. I know what it's like. I'm sorry.

My heart is with you and your mother. She is luck...

2012-05-30T22:39:52.936-04:00

My heart is with you and your mother. She is lucky to have you by her side. I wish there was something I could say to make things better. Instead, I'll just pray for you.

You'll be in my prayers. I just lost my father...

2012-05-30T21:56:50.186-04:00

You'll be in my prayers. I just lost my father after a long illness, and I know how hard the waiting and wondering is.

Thanks for sharing your story on such a difficult ...

2012-05-30T21:50:26.181-04:00

Thanks for sharing your story on such a difficult topic.....

Oh, my goodness. I just read all three hospital p...

2012-05-30T14:25:08.230-04:00

Oh, my goodness. I just read all three hospital posts in quick succession, so I missed the roller coaster. Wish I could have ridden with you if only to virtually hold your hand through the worst curves. I hope your mom continues to make strides. I'm going to knock on my desk now...

So glad that she is improving! =)

2012-05-30T11:39:09.396-04:00

So glad that she is improving!

=)

I watched my father do the same thing. I will do w...

2012-05-30T11:14:14.741-04:00

I watched my father do the same thing. I will do with my mother soon also.

I am with you every step of the way

That is wonderful. Ahead is good.

2012-05-30T08:49:20.029-04:00

That is wonderful. Ahead is good.