After Raising Us
I've already mentioned that my parents sold off the farm equipment (they never owned the farm) and moved to town after they raised my brothers and me. They rented a big two story house on a short quiet street. Mom was having an awful time with all the steps and keeping up with the house. I thought it would be easier for her when I re-married and moved J T and I out. But, she was getting worse. And, the doctors still couldn't pin it down.
Then she developed double vision. She couldn't stand straight or lay her hands on what she wanted. It was in 1969 or 1970 that Dad phoned to tell me she was in University Hospital scheduled for brain surgery. That was where a young intern spent wakeful nights with his patient asking questions. He finally had the suspicion that convinced the Doctors to put off brain surgery and check for Multiple Sclerosis.
Around that same time, the smaller one floor house next door to their rental came on the market and Dad bought it. Mom loved her new home. Eventually, Dad turned a very small room into the laundry, so she didn't even have to use the basement stairs. There were three steps from the kitchen to the garage and an outside entrance. The back yard was fenced in and she still had to use those three steps to let her pets through the garage into the back yard. Mom always had a dog. They just got smaller when she moved to town.
After farming, Dads first job was in the same factory where his brother worked. I never could picture my Dad working in a factory after all those years outside on his own schedule. And of course, he didn't like it. He was studying for a Realty License while I was living with them. But, then he answered an advertisement from an out of state business to sell their roofing supplies to factories and businesses. He seemed to like this, and though he wasn't a high pressure salesman, he was always honest in a way that garnered trust even in those who didn't know him. He was doing well but had a problem with the way they gave out bonuses. They weren't cash. They gave him valuable gifts that he didn't really want and that he had to pay taxes on their cash values. So he felt the bonuses cost him money. Their were some trips and cruises that he and Mom were able to enjoy before she got too sick. But, a couple of diamonds and inches of gold where just stuck away in a safe deposit box at the bank. Mom never had them set because she wouldn't have worn them anyway. He eased out of the selling and connected with an older man and they started a business of applying the product he still believed in. That was his business till he retired.
When Mom was dignosed with M.S., insurance became an issue. With his own business and Moms illness, insurance rates were very high....when he could even get insurance. Several policies were cancelled on them during those years. They were doing ok, but would never be wealthy. My Mother carried guilt and bitterness for that. And, I was the only one she could talk to about it.
As her illness progressed, Dad hired a housekeeper to come over once a week to help. Then even later, he set up a part time office in her laundry room so he could be home more often. And I drove the 50 miles to Marion as often as I could, just to be with her. During my pregnancy, my Mother-In-Law went with me. These two Mothers became friends too, and I just wanted it to always be like that. I loved them both so much.
Then she developed double vision. She couldn't stand straight or lay her hands on what she wanted. It was in 1969 or 1970 that Dad phoned to tell me she was in University Hospital scheduled for brain surgery. That was where a young intern spent wakeful nights with his patient asking questions. He finally had the suspicion that convinced the Doctors to put off brain surgery and check for Multiple Sclerosis.
Around that same time, the smaller one floor house next door to their rental came on the market and Dad bought it. Mom loved her new home. Eventually, Dad turned a very small room into the laundry, so she didn't even have to use the basement stairs. There were three steps from the kitchen to the garage and an outside entrance. The back yard was fenced in and she still had to use those three steps to let her pets through the garage into the back yard. Mom always had a dog. They just got smaller when she moved to town.
After farming, Dads first job was in the same factory where his brother worked. I never could picture my Dad working in a factory after all those years outside on his own schedule. And of course, he didn't like it. He was studying for a Realty License while I was living with them. But, then he answered an advertisement from an out of state business to sell their roofing supplies to factories and businesses. He seemed to like this, and though he wasn't a high pressure salesman, he was always honest in a way that garnered trust even in those who didn't know him. He was doing well but had a problem with the way they gave out bonuses. They weren't cash. They gave him valuable gifts that he didn't really want and that he had to pay taxes on their cash values. So he felt the bonuses cost him money. Their were some trips and cruises that he and Mom were able to enjoy before she got too sick. But, a couple of diamonds and inches of gold where just stuck away in a safe deposit box at the bank. Mom never had them set because she wouldn't have worn them anyway. He eased out of the selling and connected with an older man and they started a business of applying the product he still believed in. That was his business till he retired.
When Mom was dignosed with M.S., insurance became an issue. With his own business and Moms illness, insurance rates were very high....when he could even get insurance. Several policies were cancelled on them during those years. They were doing ok, but would never be wealthy. My Mother carried guilt and bitterness for that. And, I was the only one she could talk to about it.
As her illness progressed, Dad hired a housekeeper to come over once a week to help. Then even later, he set up a part time office in her laundry room so he could be home more often. And I drove the 50 miles to Marion as often as I could, just to be with her. During my pregnancy, my Mother-In-Law went with me. These two Mothers became friends too, and I just wanted it to always be like that. I loved them both so much.
posted by LeeAnn | 4:35 PM
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