Way back when I signed up for vacation time for 2009 with my job at the VA Medical Center, I had hoped to play in the Aspen Ruggerfest in September. More than a few members of my Metropolis Rugby club have been out there, and they assured me that a good time is had by all. I was able to get two weeks off in September, but since I have been on the blood thinner Coumadin since May, any contact sports are out for me-hopefully I can be off them so that I can get a run in some games next year.
Since I still had the time off from work, I decided that since I have not seen my mom in two years, it might be a good idea to go back out to where she lives in Montrose, Colorado to pay her a visit. When I last went to see her two years ago, she had a car that was barely running. I rented a car that had the proviso that nobody could smoke in the car. As my mom smokes to a level that would make a French sailor shake his head, it meant that we had to stop. A lot. Many, many times…all of this so my mom could grab a heater every 10-15 minutes. When we drove down to the Ute Mountain Casino and Resort in Tawoac, Colorado; what should have been a 3 hour trip, took 5 hours. I thought that I was going to lose my mind.
My mom has not been in the best of health the last couple of years. The farthest that she has gone recently has been to Ridgeway, about a half hour drive from Montrose. I have to admit that I like the drive from Montrose to the Four Corners area for it’s scenary. It can be a scary drive with some of the hairpin turns near Telluride, but the beauty of the mountains giving way to desert rock formations and landscapes, is a very striking sight, indeed.
My mom had a new car-well, a used Cadillac, but it was in great shape for the drive. The great thing with this, was that my mom was able to smoke in her own car(meaning I had to have my window partially open for most of the trip), this meant fewer stops, so what took us 5 hours of stop and go driving two years ago, took just a bit over 3 hours. The Caddy really was a smooth ride-I can see why mom LOVES her car.
I did not think that there would be much autumn color in south west Colorado, but I was very pleasantly surprised to see the mountains and hills ringed with bright autumn foliage.
The day temps were in the high 70’s in Montrose, high 80’s down by Cortez and the Four Corners area.
I don’t play cards or black jack like my mom, but I was lucky enough to have a chance to chat up a variety of people who were in the Casino: a Navajo social worker, a Ute who does pottery and raises quarter horses, a Navajo grandfather looking after his lively 12 month old granddaughter(This was in the Hotel lobby, not in the Casino) and a young Navajo fighter from Farmington, New Mexico who was at the Casino for some mixed martial art fights that were to take place on Saturday.
My mom has a new member in her house since I last saw her: she has a mixed-breed dog named Misha
that my mom inherited from one of her regular poker-player buddies. Misha, who just adores my mom, is a great watchdog and an even better companion for my mom, who talks to her just like somebody would speak to a best friend or mate. I had to get on my mom for overfeeding her dog, and took Misha out for walks, along with my sister Wendy’s dog, Dakota.(Misha is on the left, Dakota on the right) I sometimes wonder if Misha has the signs of black lung yet from being around my mom’s incessant cloud of tars and nicotine’s.
Still, it was somewhat sobering seeing that my mom is really having some health issues(which her 3 pack a day smoke habit does not help). She’s 70 years old now..it does not seem that long ago when I was giving her a hard time about turning 40. She has no interest in health advice from her son the nurse in cutting back on smoking or changing anything in her life. Part of living in Colorado away from all 4 of her kdis means that she is going to do what she wants, when she wants it, and how often she wants to do it.
It was a good visit, with some great scenery, but it really made me wonder just what will be the circumstances of my next trip to see her: will it be a social visit, or will it involve making decisions about her health or last wishes if my mom cannot make them for herself?
Recent Comments