Monday, February 27, 2012

Mormor. and More.

 My mom - otherwise known to the world as Mormor - has been with us this week.  It's the first visit since her retirement, and the longest she's spent with us, ever! It's been wonderful.  She is game for almost anything, which means she fits right in...hiking (and carrying the unwanted clothing)...
 ...reading - reading and being read to...
 ...playing games - she brought a new one for us, called Phase 10, which is something like Uno and something like Rummy.  I think. It's fun, and something we can all play. 
Yes, she knits while she plays. And she's teaching me to knit SOCKS!


There was Out - a beautiful walk to the riverside coffee shop...

Ani's sporting her new Mexican party shirt

One of the reasons Mormor came to see us now was to be present for Eliza's first piano recital! So very exciting. And nerve-wracking. And wonderful.


Eliza was composed, calm, and did a beautiful job with The Merry Widow Waltz.  She plays with such heart and steadiness. 


She got to share the day with her best friend, who played one ahead of her, and also did a splendid job!


They're goofballs, can you tell?


Lovely goofballs. I think they were experiencing a huge amount of RELIEF!! and EUPHORIA!!


Today is our last day together, and we took a long hike on a new trail, in the spring weather we're having...

Ani woke me up this morning, crawling in bed with me, and talking, as she usually does. This morning it was about slowing the day down, changing time, because you know, Mama, today is our last day with Mormor...That's saying a lot from the girl who is all about her little family, the one who is so protective of her time alone with her people.

A: Mormor, what is an alabaster brow?
I think it's the conversations we might miss the most! The stories of when she and my dad lived in Ethiopia, stories from when she was a little girl...
Tea and stories
Tonight we lavished her with love by making a spa out of our couch, soaking and massaging her tired feet, decorating her hands with henna, feeding her delicious rice pudding...
Eliza's handiwork
 Ani asked if she could scrub and massage her feet.  She kept asking her, Mormor, how do you feel?

 We wanted her to feel so special and loved.

My handiwork
Thank you, Mormor! For stories, and listening, for being creative and patient, for tuna noodle casserole, spaghetti pie and tortilla soup, for coming all this way to be with us...we love you!

3 comments:

Kerry said...

Sweet. How wonderful that mormor could spend a whole week with you.

alissa said...

you spoil her! now she's gonna want foot massages from us too... so glad you got some good time with her! now send her home. we miss her!

merry said...

I'll try this again....
Now that I'm back home, sleeping in my own bed and listening to the quiet that is my empty home, I miss all of you! Thank you so much for the delicious meals, beautiful walks, lovely piano recital, relaxing spa, reading in bed - yours and mine - games, cards, talks, laughing. Oh!! The laughing! The hugs and more hugs, and did I mention the hugs? Thank you all, for making me feel so welcome and so much a member of the family. Can I do it again sometime? LOVE YOU!!