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A reflection on my mom’s death, one year ago. Continue reading

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Now

It’s been almost 10 years. On November 13, 2013, I admitted my mom into the Hebrew Home. She’d been living with an Alzheimer’s diagnosis for 3 1/2 years already by that point. When she first entered the facility, she was … Continue reading

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Too little, too late?

I am walking down Palisade Avenue, passing the Hebrew Home on the right, and descending the hill when I notice the street is newly paved, the line down the center a freshly painted yellow. I haven’t been here on foot … Continue reading

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Mourning

Victoria drove me to the Hebrew Home yesterday for what they call a drive-in visit. Nursing homes in New York don’t let you visit in person, not since early March, not since the city started to shut down. A couple … Continue reading

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Social Distancing

Yesterday afternoon’s walk in Prospect Park, done for the purpose of getting fresh air and cleaning out the mental cobwebs, took me past the bandshell, the site of the many free Celebrate Brooklyn concerts I’ve enjoyed over more than two … Continue reading

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Nostalgia

On my way to the Hebrew Home, walking up Palisade Avenue from the Metro-North train station, rain puddles trickling down the hill, I thought, inextricably, “I’m really going to miss this.” I mean, I’m going to miss these days, more … Continue reading

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Happy Mother’s Day

My mom pooped in her pants yesterday. It was pretty gross. Thank god for Harriet, one of the aides on her unit, who cleaned her up. Last week and the week before, my mom threw up. She was at the … Continue reading

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Boxing Day

I walk down the hallway toward my mom, who is leaning against her walker with her friends surrounding her. They notice me and wave as I approach. She sees me, but she doesn’t wave, and when I come up alongside … Continue reading

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Changes

“I have to pee,” my mom said, moments after I arrived for our visit. We were entering her room, and so I turned her right around and took her into the hall bathroom. The sink in her room was broken, … Continue reading

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Meaning

When I walk into the TV room where my mom sits with the other residents, they are all motionless in wheelchairs and arm chairs. While they’re facing the TV set, their eyes are wandering or down, or to the side, … Continue reading

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