Kansas Update

 Greetings to all: some news/plans from Kansas.

We went to Topeka today and visited with Mom and the Hospice folks. As we arrived Mom was just getting up and into the wheelchair at 11:30. She went to the table with assistance and was served lunch. She dove into the cottage cheese/apricot bowl and ate the whole thing, then went to her mashed potatoes/gravy. She even ate some of the cut up roasted chicken. She has a strong tremor that impedes her motion but gets it done. She recognized me as someone she cares about but did not volunteer a name and I didn't pursue it. I believe she knew I was a son on some prompting but there was recognition in her eyes. She also recognized Mark and AD in a similar way. She smiled off and on, but is so frail and fatigued with even sitting there. She was glad to see us.

 She then expressed fatigue and was taken back to her room where she laid down. We went to lunch out of the facility, did some errands, then returned. She was awake/arousable in bed and interacted some with us.

 All in all she is stable, tries to smile, says "Thank You" when you touch her/stroke her arm, recognizes we are close to her. I do not feel she knows our names, maybe she does.

 Hospice agrees with this assessment, that she is not "imminent" at this point, and she could go on for more days and even some weeks.

 With that in mind, I really feel a need to return home for a while. I plan to leave Olathe in the am, pick up "the chair" and other stuff at Wayne and Anna's, leave some hunting stuff, then drive to Emporia. There I will load the chests, golf clubs, and other paraphernalia and head for Tucson. I plan to make it to Springerville at least, probably stay with Chipman's (who are actually staying at our place in Tucson tonight), then get to Tucson after unloading stuff in the cabin. I am hoping to get to Phoenix for Easter, spend the day with the younger ones...

 I will then plan to come back in a couple of weeks or so to spend a little more time before the big Mexico trip in mid May.

 Then there is the Dickson family reunion in early June and I plan to go there.

 There's the plans, my love to all,

DAD/UR