Doors closing...again...

 AND....as winter arrives in north Japan....

Covid is back, in yet another form. A few people I know have had it recently, mainly just a few days of bad flu-like symptoms for a healthy adult. It's interesting though, a couple of people have mentioned that the no sense of smell/taste element of this virus does seem to be a constant.

Anyway - Okaasan's care home. The 4th floor got it last week....and this week...the whole home is closing its doors to family visits again. Not surprising.

We've been going once a week recently. Sitting bedside for 25 mins, chatting a bit and playing popular ballads on the mobile phone. Okaasan sometimes moving her head and apparently opening her eyes in an involuntary action - while snoring.

Such visits.

I read in UK news that the new government is going to have another look at introducing assisted dying laws for people who have under 6 month to live, with the independent approval of two doctors etc

Oh, I hope it becomes law by the time it's my time to check out. I really do. Dying in a hospital bed, unresponsive, kept alive by solutions delivered in a tube is not how I want to end all of this.

There was the story recently of a rock musician's wife who had to travel alone to the clinic in Switzerland to die, because even if her husband went with her to the nearest town it could make him liable for prosecution. That's awful.

I fear no sensible assisted dying law will come in Japan, anytime soon. Even as recently as 20 years ago, cancer patients weren't told by their doctors that they actually HAD cancer (so they didn't give up hope and feel bad!). Japan is way behind on progressive thinking about social issues.

Anyway - sleep on Okaasan. Hope to see you in spring!

Sleeping...sleeping...

 VERY sorry.

Nothing from me since August.

Well, nothing to report. 

The care home stayed open to visitors for a long time, we go once a week and sit for 15-25 mins. Okaasan is heavily drugged and sleeping. Sometimes moves her head and lips, breaths deeply.

We go and sit by the bedside, play music on the mobile phone. We chat to eachother about shopping, cat, camping car, TV shows...hoping that Okaasan is enjoying the music and our voices. We stroke her hair and hands, gently.

No response.

She is VERY drugged up. A nurse rather shocked us by coming up the bed and using her fingers to try and force Okaasan's eyes open: "Kazuko-san! Your son is here! Look!"....and even with that action Okaasan's eye didn't actually open at all.

Of course,  we were protesting a bit and saying: "oh no - it's ok! Just let her sleep!!". Really it is ok. At this point in her life we just want her to be relaxed and "happy" in that drugged state.

Two friends talked to me recently about their mothers - women in their 90s who live in their own homes, who go to day service and can enjoy car trips with the family and lunches out. I reminded them that those woman are SO lucky to have that life - despite walking problems or a bit forgetful.

None of us know what the future holds. Okaasan was still having that kind of ordinary life until her mid-80s...

And now...😒

Our life update? Well, we travelled to mainland Japan in our RV. We visited an RV building company and have ordered our retirement home on wheels! It will have a toilet and much better balance for driving than our current van. It will be ready in 2026 - by which time we can see Okaasan's state of life, the cat's state of life and my work situation.

Apart from that, we are slipping thru autumn here. I finally bought a 2nd hand inflatable SUP (after a summer of procrastination) and I've been trying to get out and enjoy the water again - and trying to stand up on the thing. Last week I did it! Stood up 5 times - old dog learning new tricks here!

Another year round the... bed...

 Okaasan saw in her 94th year recently.

🎂🎂

But we couldn't be there with her. No crab dinner out. No hiding the sake bottle from her. No laughs.

We delivered a birthday card to the care home lobby desk and hoped that some nice, friendly nurse would take time out of her busyness to wave the card in front of Okaasan and chat brightly a bit.

Strangely though, a few days AFTER the birthday, the care home called to say it was lifting the Corona Virus visit-restrictions and that families are free to go again, without reservations. 

Surprising because this week is Obon, the major Japanese festival when families go back to home towns, grave visiting and memories. So many people from other places will want to visit bed ridden elderly - bringing with them their airplane and travel viruses. So, an interesting time to lift restrictions.

We'll probably go in tomorrow, play some music on the smart phone and give Okaasan the tremendous pleasure of listening to us two prattling on about stuff.

Fighting fit! At 94....

 Okaasan survived another round with the COVID virus - this really is one strong old lady :-)

The care home phoned to say her fever was down and she was feeling better. I can't remember, is that her 2 nd time? 3rd time with COVID?

Anyway, she battled thru again.

Still no family visits of course. It's her 94th birthday next week, maybe we can deliver a card to the care home entrance and ask them to show it to her :-( And maybe WE should eat some crab in her honor?

Actually, Hokkaido is going to be 30 C plus all next week - so we may not be eating anything much.