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It was time to find Edie a new playmate.
It had now been about two years and my mother-in-law Edie and I
were still doing our same weekly routine. We were spending way too much
time together.
I was becoming short tempered and angry. Caregiving was taking its toll.
Unfortunately in Edie's lovely apartment building there are not many
seniors. She says she doesn't mind. "Old people complain too much." Well, at
least that made me laugh out loud.
A new Senior Center had opened only three miles away. So off we went on
a little outing. We arrived at the center and Edie wanted to know why we
were there. "To check the place out", I told her. She was far from thrilled.
The center was beautiful with all kinds of activities. Edie was having
problems walking too far even with her cane, so she sat, and I got the grand
tour. It was perfect; a place for her to come at least once a week. I thought it
would be fun for her to be around her peers.
We got in the car after my tour and I said "What do you think? Isn't it
great!" She said "It's much too far to walk. I'm fine at home."
She had become very content in her beautiful apartment and pool, and hanging
out with me and my friends. I had created a monster.
I went home to Kenny that evening to tell him how wonderful the center was
and that his mother refused to go. He told me she's a big girl. If she'd
rather stay home alone, I have to stop worrying about what she is going to
do all day. Kenny wasn't feeling the guilt, not doing the running.
She was okay with the status quo. I wasn't. She tells us that her weeks go so
fast. She reads constantly, and loves watching Larry King. She's okay with
it.
You can take a horse to the water, but you can't make them drink. I have to
modify my caregiving, remove some of my guilt, and get over it.
Her cane doesn't seem to be doing it for her walking problems anymore.
Next? | 
