I'M NOT VERY BRIGHT

If you look at my posts back in July and August, you notice one theme. I did not expect my 102 year old Mother who is on hospice care to survive to October 14. She was just so very weak and seemingly near death.

Was I ever wrong.

Ruth Lynn and I visited with her today. Her bed was cranked up, and she smiled at us when we entered the room. We've known that something was going on in her brain in the background, but she has been unable to talk for any extended period of time. She said "Morning" to us without any suggestion from us. She was very bright and alert, but she still could not communicate except with her eyes and facial expression. It was just a normal day of talking with her or "at" her.

Ruth Lynn then asked if she could write anything. Since I visit with her each day, I had the usual answer. No. I had actually given someone that answer just last week. The only problem with my answer was that we had never really tried to let her write.

So I got a pad and pen. Ruth Lynn held it very tightly as she grasped the pen with her one good hand, her left "writing" hand. Ruth Lynn asked her a question, and she clearly wrote down the answer. It was "Ruth" in response to Ruth Lynn's question of who she was . . as Ruth Lynn pointed to herself.

Ruth Lynn then called me over as she was yelling, and we all had a wonderful laugh, including Mammaw, at her ability not only to think but to write something.

We often wonder how much Mammaw really comprehends. Is she responding to us or just to our physical touch. We know the answer now. She's thinking very clearly, and she wants to talk with us about it.

So, beginning tomorrow, we're going to let her write. I may even post a picture of the author in the coming days.

God is still at work in Birdie Idell Low Cotter's life.