You can never have enough...

[Jan]

My Mum had her gallbladder removed at 99 - the poor young registrar received a real earful when he presumed out loud that she would want no resuscitation - she was still living at home and was as fit as a fiddle .When they took a look inside they came to the conclusion she had the vital organs of a 60 year old - all those years of veggies long before it became fashionable and her penchant for walking home while we all returned home by car when I was a kid certainly paid off - if only I had inherited her self control .She recovered in no time from the op - when she turned 100 she shocked us all she had organised to go into the Masonic lodge rest home - she had outlived all her card playing friends and had decided she would enjoy the socialisation - no way would she come and live with any of us .She absolutely loved it - Robie provided her with a little fridge and used to take her all sorts of titbits - one of us visited every day .She tripped on a mat and broke her leg at 102 - they said there were two options operate and pin it or bed rest - no hesitation she had the op and was up and about in no time - one day not long after the op we were called to a meeting with DHB and ACC and a couple of other professionals to discuss her future care - we were all in her room her bed was empty - the manager of the home was smiling - next thing down the hall comes Mum whizzing along self wheeling her wheelchair- she apologised for being late - hopped up on the bed unaided - it was hilarious .Unfortunately her rest home was hit with Covid after the cruise ship was allowed to dock here with covid on board and one of the cooks had a secondary job as a tour guide - she had no idea the ship had covid - the powers that be knew .She died alone - heartbreaking

Your Mum sounds like quite a character Jan.

She was hilarious - tiny little lady - will never forget her whizzing in for her meeting with the clip board brigade - after they told her about the health of her organs she had decided to give her body to science - she could still lift her leg like a can can dancer- her crochet and knitting projects were amazing - we used to play up so she would tell us wait until your father gets home and disappear into her room and knit or embroider -  can see now why she did it - she would love your work Kiwimade .She was untrained but could sing opera -won NZ Wool award with a long coat mini skirt and coat out of her home spun wool - the outfit was given to Twiggie .My father absolutely adored her - she could be a right cow especially when she disappeared into her room - he would come home after driving the Napier Taupo road for 14 hours and have to feed us kids - we knew better than to moan about her - she was born on the ship coming from England her fathers family sent him to NZ with a wife and 4 kids and one on the way with a pile of posh furniture and told not to come back - he was a little wiry red head who drank himself into an early grave otherwise he probably would have hit 100 -