We grow up thinking that our parents are like super heroes. Just a hug from mom, or some words of praise from dad will make everything better. If we are sick, the parents' magic will make us well. Nothing hurts as much as their disappointment. They seem perfect.
But once a person gets to be my age, the parents are older too, and their perfections have perhaps been eroded by age, and frequent use. A grown child's system is shocked to see that the people she counted on to kick her butt, and help her in so many ways, simply can't anymore. They need some help themselves.
In my case, my father, who is one of the coolest, funniest, and smartest individuals I've ever known, recently made the painful decision that it was time to give up driving, for safety reasons. He has vision problems, and is forgetful. Meanwhile, my mother, once again has to be an emotional rock,exercising patience, when she wants to scream. She has had to do that too often. She deserves a break.
My husband's mom is currently laid up in a PT facility, following a second fracture in her back. As of this writing, It does not sound like she is much better. Her back is basically as brittle as fire kindling. She has always been good about flying from Chicago to Portland to see us. We will have to start taking more trips there.
Having a life-threatening illness, I'm one to celebrate being alive.
For some, though, getting older sucks.
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