My first task after taking over Mom’s caregiving duties was buying her a new wardrobe. No more drab nightdresses. She got so excited, she decided to wear them all at once.
Author Archives: Mark Steven Porro
It’s an Honor
After a particularly stressful day for the both of us, Mom shot me a curious look asked, “Why are you doing this?” I took a deep breath. “Because it’s an honor for a son to take care of his mother,” I answered in all sincerity. Taken aback, she replied, “It is?”
Happy Thanksgiving
On this day, not only were we “Thankfull” for all the goodies Mom prepared for us, but she also removed all the plastic seat covers on the living room furniture, which gave us another reason to love Thanksgiving.
Just Checking
Early one morning, Mom calls out my name. I fly out of bed, down the freshly varnished steps, and by some small miracle remain on my feet. I staggered into her room, my heart racing. Mom: Oh, you are here. Mark: Of course I’m here. Where else am I going to be? Mom: Just anted to make sure. Mark: That’s it?
Yeah! A new Mini-Teaser
Mom: Why am I always in bed? Why don’t you let me out? Mark: Mom, you can’t walk. Mom: Maybe I could if you put down the railing. Mark: You haven’t walked in a year.
Kleenex Tissues, Momma’s New Best Friend
It seems that many, if not all, seniors are obsessed with Kleenex tissues. A Kleenex to stifle a runny nose, to catch a trickle of drool, or to erase, with a little spit, that smudge on a grandchild’s face. Neatly folded or hastily balled, crammed up a sleeve or stashed in a pocket, cherished in any condition, and always at the ready, Kleenex tissues are a senior’s best friend.
Mom also loved her Kleenex, perhaps more than most. She used one tissue over and over until rendering it utterly useless. After each assault, she stuffed those soggy shreds up her sleeve for safe keeping…
A Bonus Teaser “Halloween”
Mom loved Halloween. Why not? If gave her another excuse to shop. But for Halloween on 2013, I did the shopping which included costumes for the two of us. I wanted to show the neighborhood Genevieve was back and ready for some trick or treating.
My Hair
(Mom wakes in a tizzy) Mom: I have idea how my hair looks like to go out in public. It needs to be set. Mark: When are you going out in public? Mom: I have no idea. (she falls back asleep)
Our Cover
When I first embarked on this journey, my mother had many visions. Most were light, some dark, and others damn entertaining. But the one she saw most often and described in such detail was of a parade of well-dressed children who marched down Emmett Place and passed by her bedroom window. The girls held flowers, a single stem, or a bouquet, including her favorite, daisies. The boys held colorful balloons that bobbed in the wind. This parade also plays an integral role throughout “A Cup of Tea on the Commode.”
While editing the manuscript, my sister Caryl, out of the blue, sent me a batch of old black and white photos. One caught my attention. It captured Mom, eight years old, dressed in a frilly white dress, wearing patent leather shoes, sitting on a bench, with a flower in her hand. I don’t recall ever seeing that photo before, but I couldn’t help thinking that serendipity played a role in its timely arrival. This young girl fit in perfectly with Mom’s parade, which left me no choice but to feature it on the cover.
The handwritten title adds a soft touch and hints at the intimacy of the stories within. A pattern of daisies, her favorite flower, fills the background and reinforces the warm invitation to join me on my multi-tasking adventures of caring for Mom. And how I survived to tell the tale.
“Vertical”
Mom surprised me one day. Both she and her red motorized reclining chair were just about vertical. Mark: Where do you think you’re going? Gen: I have to go to work. Mark: How are you going to get there? Gen: I’ll drive. Mark: Mom, you have worked in twenty years, and you haven’t driven in ten.