Mom has her ups and downs. She started getting a little tired at her 90th birthday party the other day, and was a bit wiped out for a while. This morning though, she was really chipper.  She asked me what time it was, after she had been sitting up in the recliner for a while. When I told her, she got on the phone and made a call.  Mom doesn’t hear well at all. Most of the time, when I call from California, the conversations are a bit like this:

Me: Hi Mom.

Mom: Who is this?

Me: It’s me, Jack.

Mom: I can’t hear you.  <coughing>

Me: HI MOM, IT’S ME, JACK.

Mom:  <coughing> Dave?

Me: NO, MOM, IT’S ME, JACK.

Mom: Oh, Hi Jack. I can’t hear very well.

Jack: I KNOW MOM. HOW ARE YOU?

Mom: <coughing> I’m <coughing> Ok.  I can’t <coughing> talk very <coughing> well.

Jack: OK, I JUST WANTED TO SAY I LOVE YOU.

Mom: Ok

Jack: I’LL SIGN OFF NOW.

Mom: Ok,  <coughing> I love you too honey.

[Note: lately her coughing spells have lessened considerably.]

But today, after I told her what time it was, she got on the phone and called the lady at the beauty shop and made an appointment. Her speech was slow, but the salon lady was patient, probably accustomed to speaking with older people. She was able to get right in, so I wheeled her down to the salon.

Truth be told, our dear friend Cheryl is responsible for helping Mom eliminate her cough. She helps Mom immeasurably and made it possible for her to be in chipper moods.

Here is Mom at the beauty salon:

Mom looked really good after getting all spruced up. I’m sure that it will help her maintain her chipperness.