“I can’t believe you’re eighty-eight!” smiled the handsome young man. “You should’ve seen me before I got sick!” replied my mom-in-law. They chatted back and forth as he checked out her legs. Using the sonogram wand he continued to watch the screen for blood clots. As he turned her bad leg to the side, she winced in pain so he stopped. “Uh-oh,” he apologized. “Sorry I hurt you. Do you still like me now?”
“Less and less,” Nina replied with a twinkle in her eye.
My poor mother-in-law had been through the ringer. It was the end of a very long day of heart issues, lung fluid, doctor probes, bruised arms from failed I.V. needles, and questions on top of questions. Throw in missed meds, and nothing in her tummy but half a pack of instant grits early that morning, by about 7:37pm, she was wore slap out. When finally they wheeled her from the ER into a tiny closet sized room on the heart floor, she was exhausted. Throw in her claustrophobia, & several beeping machines, it was a recipe for despair. Add to the I.V. drip a cocktail to rid her body of fluid, plus instructions not to get out of bed, I marveled that she could still smile.
But that’s Nina- my other mother.
She’s been my other mother for almost forty years now. I’ve always told David that if anything ever happened to our marriage, I’ve got dibs on his mom. There’s not a more positive person on the face of the earth.
She loves to ride a boat with the wind in her face. Daddy took us out on his pontoon one hot sunny day when suddenly the motor fell off.
Yep.
Right in the middle of the lake, the motor fell off and quickly sank. [That probably doesn’t surprise you if you read my blog and know how we live.] As David jumped into the water to try to retrieve it, I wondered what in the world we’d do so far from shore. Unfazed by pesky details like a sinking motor, Nina calmly commented, “What a nice breeze! At least it’s not terribly hot.”
That is so typical of my other mother.
I just got a text that she should be cleared to leave the hospital soon. She’ll probably write the administration a nice note describing the excellent care she received during her stay. She’ll put on her prettiest lipstick and do a little shoulder dance as she tells me the good news herself. She will explain to anyone who hasn’t heard that she didn’t get to vote in the primaries, but she would have had she not been in the ER. By the time she leaves all the nurses will be invited to Sunday lunch with the rest of the family. They will be told to look for the house with all the cars and assured that no one will realize they aren’t part of the regular crew.
If they are wise, they’ll stop by and enjoy our crazy family… especially since Nina plans to paint her toenails in honor of losing several pounds of fluid. That’s my other mother. Every day I know her, I love her more and more.
You are so blessed to have each other! She is a lovely lovely lady.
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Yes she is! Glad you two have had the chance to get to know each other too!
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Such a sweet tribute to Nina. I have never had a mother-in-law, but your story makes me want to be a better one myself. So happy Nina is doing better, she is blessed to have a sweetie like you as her other daughter. 🙂
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Thank you Carolyn. I really want to follow her example too with my son-in-laws.
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I really love your writing of Nina. I have been blessed knowing this sweet lady. She is such a beautiful woman inside and out, and she talks of you as her daughter. You guys are very blessed to have her. I too have a wonderful Mother in law, almost exactly like Nina and I could not have chosen a better one. I hope Nina and Lynna have a wonderful Mother’s Day. Hugs.
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Love this tribute to Nina. What an amazing woman she is! 🙂
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Such a beautiful message! You are so lucky to have a wonderful Mother in law and I know she feels blessed to have you as a daughter in law. Reminds me of Mrs. Pittmon……she was so wonderful and I loved her like a Mother too. Happy Mothers Day. Hope Nina will be home soon! I love you guys!
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Thanks Dianne! Nina got home Thursday, thank the Lord and is doing so much better! Just in time for a Happy Mother’s Day!
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