This is a pic of Janet. Janet is my bestest girl friend. We have known each other for almost 29 years. She will be 70 next Monday. She moved from Ohio to Dallas this past January. Her husband had died in November and she wanted to be near two of her sons who live in Texas.
Anyway, all four of her sons (ages 50, 49, 48, 47) and their families, her brother and his wife (from Florida), her cousin (from Los Angeles) and I gathered together on Friday at her home to celebrate her birthday. It was early because her boys were going to be there for the holiday and figured it would be a good time to do so. Most of her grandchildren were in attendance too. It was loud and fun.
Her husband had died of Alzheimer's last November. He had been diagnosed 20 years previously. When he was diagnosed, Janet's father had recently died and her mother, who was an invalid, came to live with them. Actually, it was her mother who noticed that he was having some serious problems.
Janet took an early retirement at age 62 to take care of him because he just couldn't be home by himself anymore. Last September he had collapsed (at my home) and was hospitalized. The social workers and doctors said that he couldn't go home, yet, but was not sick enough to be in the hospital. He needed to have 24 hour rehab care. In many ways, the decision was a blessing. It was one that most of Janet's friends felt should have been done earlier, but would have been very difficult for her to make. By the social workers and doctors making the decision, it was out of Janet's hands. Needless to say, he died before he was ever able to return home. Probably, for the first time in 20 years, Janet had freedom to live.
She looks good for a almost 70 year old, although she was complaining that she was getting gray but only on one side. LOL.
Her sons were admonishing her that she needs to call them every morning to let them know she is okay. She responded that she might start doing that, but if they can never get in touch with her, they should call me since she talks to me almost every day or at least emails me (or I her) almost every day.
She is a dear friend. I miss her and it is really a blessing to have email and relatively inexpensive long distance!!
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