Mother/Daughter Christmas Snow No More

This past Sunday, November 22ND, my mother and I did our annual mother/daughter Christmas shopping trip. Normally I wait until the first or second weekend of December, but this year my schedule wasn't going to allow for that at work for a weekend trip. I suppose we could have done a week day one. Normally on our trip out, every year for as long as I can remember, we have had to fight bitter cold and lots and lots of snow and ice. This year we had beautiful sky's and fifty-four degrees. Who could have asked for a better or more perfect day. These trips are something I cherish. Who knows how many more years my parents will be with me, so I try to make the most of it. We started our day out by meeting my mothers sister, Arlene, for lunch at Azars. It was somewhere my mother hadn't been in a long time. My dad is pretty much a routine person and he's not much for restaurants unless there is a buffet involved. I personally don't understand the need for the buffet, but I suppose to each their own. So mom and I met my aunt and had a leisurely lunch. Azars was packed to my surprise. Apparently their Sunday breakfast buffet gets quiet a good business. During lunch my mother was quiet for her. You see my mother has Parkinson's. She's getting worse fairly quickly I think, but I don't ever dare say that to her. She needs to keep a positive attitude so I try not to play it up. There are things she can't do though for herself that embarrass her somewhat though in public these days. I had to cut her sandwich into four pieces for her. I know from the way she acted that it did bother her somewhat having to ask and having to have it done. Her hand shakes really badly and she can't hold the knife to cut it herself. She's my mother and it's extremely hard to watch her growing so frail. She's always been a very proud and strong woman. She's someone I could only hope to be a little like, for there is no way I could ever be her. I know my friends get tired of me saying it, but my mother is the best you could ever ask for. She's spiritual and loving and kind. Anyway, after lunch my mom had her list of items that my dad had given her that he might like for Christmas. Now with my mom you can buy her anything and she's happy. With my dad if you want him to like it, you should probably pretty much stick to his list. I know, kind of takes the fun out of it, but it is what it is. So we did our run to Kmart. Now I love the Kmart on East Coliseum. I mean it's one of the few stores that still a good old fashioned and simple store. I can run in and find what I want without having to walk a marathon while I'm at it and pass by a thousand things I really don't need in the process. So we went to Kmart and then we went to Walmart. After this my mother was pretty much tired. It wasn't as many stores as we normally would hit, but again her disease wears her out easily. I took her home and helped her with her purchases into the house. We had spent about four hours out and about. Needless to say I was tired too. Sunday wasn't done for me though, it was a family day all around. My dad took my evening walk with me. He slowed me down some. I am so use to walking fairly fast now, but it didn't matter. It was nice to walk and talk with him as he discussed his day with my brother and their trip to our church in Saint Mary's Ohio. All in all the mothers day out went well and the weather cooperated nicely, leading me to believe maybe the curse of snow on our day out might be done and finally come to an end. Memories and times together with my parents is something I will always cherish and for the most part my Sunday was spent with them and doing for them. I did manage a nap and I did go to see "New Moon" by myself which was relaxing, but for the most part it was family filled and I wouldn't change a thing.