Today is going to be a busy one. I'm meeting my mom for lunch at Red Lobster and then I'll be helping her get her basement organized/packed up for her move to a senior living apartment in November. Over the weekend my mom, sister and I went to look at the apartment that she'll be moving into -- it's a lot smaller than the condo she currently lives in, but I think she's finally realizing she needs to downsize. She'll be 81 in November. All my brothers and sisters (all 9 of us) feel that it is the right time for her to make this change, but we know this is a decision she had to make for herself.

I know this move will be a big step for my mom. She already is exhibiting a few signs of concern about living with 'all those old people' and how she worries that she'll be unhappy in such a place. But my sister and I assured her that the time was right for her to move and that she'll have to make a few minor adjustments in her thinking about what living in an Assisted Living facility will really be like. We've visited Heritage Place numerous times and each time we've been welcomed by staff and residents alike. Everyone seems so nice. I really do believe my mom will be happy -- once she's moved in and begins to settle into the routine, hopefully she'll begin to feel right at home. What's nice is she'll only be ten minutes from where I live. We can still meet twice a week like we've been doing for the past four years. I just want her to be happy.

I'm hopeful that she'll be able to sell her condo. She has four people interested in buying, but her real estate agent wants to make the calls herself to ensure that my mom gets the best deal. I think that's for the best, too. I'd hate to see mom cheated out of the money coming towards her, especially now that she'll be needing it for moving expenses and other unforeseen expenses. She's decided not to make any upgrades to her place unless the new buyers tell her to -- my brothers thought the new buyers would probably gut the place anyways, seeing that the condo is over 14 years old and has a lot of updating to do. I tend to agree with them. Why spend all that money on something that the new owners will probably just tear out and change anyways. This way they'll be able to choose what they want and be happy with it. I don't really think mom will have much problem selling her place. She lives on a very quiet, private road with a conservancy in her backyard and a woods on her left. She regularly sees a variety of wildlife: deer, coyote, and fox. I know she'll miss that.

Having her move will be a big asset to me. I've become more and more concerned with her living alone, especially now that fall and winter is approaching. The past few winters were really hard on her -- both physically and emotionally. Most of her neighbors left for warmer climates in the winter and returned in the beginning of summer, so she was alone a lot of the time. Her move will provide us kids with a lot of relief. We'll know she'll be taken care of if something unexpected would come up -- as it is right now, if she were to need help, she'd have to call 911 herself. When she moves into her new apartment she won't have to worry about any of that! They have med-alert alarms, a nurse on staff 24-hours, and other services to help if something were to happen. It just feels good, as her daughter, knowing that she'll be someplace safe.

Well, I need to get my dog walked. I'm meeting my mom at the restaurant soon. I think she wants the crab this time around -- I'll probably order my usual: shrimp scampi with extra garlic, fried shrimp, broccoli, garden salad with red-wine Vinegrette, and cheddar bay biscuits. Yum.

Hope everyone has a safe and blessed Labor Day.