Daughter's Eulogy

Monday, July 16, 2012

A Big Step

Last Friday Mom and I went to McDonalds for our regular menu items:  Two Double Cheeseburgers and a small fry. 

As I pulled into our regular handicapp spot mom said, “Julienne, can I come in with you?”

“Mom, do you want to eat inside McDonalds?”

“Yes, I feel good.  I’d like to try and eat inside like we used to.”

“Terrific!    Let’s do it!”

I brought mom her walker and as we walked into McDonalds, mom had a big smile on her face.  Going into McDonalds and eating inside had to feel like ‘old times’ for mom because I felt that way.  Mom keeps saying to me that she would like to feel the way she used to.  Eating in McDonalds was a step in the right direction.

Once in McDonalds, my priority was finding a close comfortable seat near the restroom for mom.  Just as we were getting close to a booth mom said, “Julienne, I’m shaking.  I am losing control of my hands.  This is how I fell last time when I was by myself.”

“Mom, I have you.  Take your time.  You will be OK.”

Once mom sat down, she was fine again.  Then I put her brakes on her walker and pushed the walker up to her almost as a gate. I thought if she tried to stand up while I was getting her order her walker would support her and keep her from falling till I could reach her. 

I kept looking back at mom while I ordered to make sure she was OK.  Then I went to fill our water glasses with lids and straws; then I brought our glasses to the table where mom was sitting.

Mom said, “Julienne, let’s go eat in the car.”

“Mom, the girl is setting up a tray for us to eat here.”

“I don’t want to eat here!”

As mom started panicking as she tried to stand up I said, “OK, mom, sit down for just a minute.  Let me have the girl bag our food so we could eat in the car.”

When I came back to mom, I put our drinks and bag of food on mom’s walker and escorted her back to the car.

“I’m sorry, Julienne, I’m such a problem.”
“Mom, today you took a big step. Maybe next time we’ll actually get to eat in McDonalds.”




Mom smiled. I unwrapped mom’s Double Cheeseburger, set out our fries and made our make shift picnic on our laps and turned on the music.  Mom was happy.

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