Traveling to a Wedding and Detailed Planning of Mom’s Move

Saturday, May 30

We attended a beautiful wedding Saturday of my nieces. It was an outside wedding. I was fearful it would rain, and it did, but mainly just all around and not in the spot where they were getting married. You could see the thunderheads in the distance. We had Mom with us. And I knew that the trip itself would be very difficult for her but we did it. Above is her grandmother corsage.

We took both her walker and wheel chair and we actually needed both. Mom did a great job of packing. I had reminded her of what all to pack in case she forgot anything. I knew to ask if she had meds, wedding clothes, shoes, etc because any of those items would have really upset the apple cart in a big way.

I wasn’t expecting George to forget his clothes though. Luckily I saw them hanging as we were leaving and said “don’t forget those” and he said “oh yeah”, lol. Geez 😬

Our drive there took us through some back woods and country roads. The drive and the landscape was beautiful. Lovely rolling hills and countryside. I’m not sure what Mom saw, whether it was the railroad crossing as you went up a hill or if it was an old barn or someone’s property, but she got excited in the back seat and said “oh….oh….oh….ya’ll…..this is where my Daddy grew up…he spent part of his childhood here and we came back here to visit my granny Voss”. And sure enough we look up and tell me we just turned on Voss road. 😉 It was thrilling for her to be back in this area near Culleoka, TN.

In this pic you can see the rain clouds in the distance on the way to the wedding.

Mom got to see her friend Barbara. They have been friends for a very long time. I remember them as friends from my early childhood from church. They still speak every week or two and check on each other.

Here are the two grandmothers on the bride’s side. Ms Sarah on the left my BIL’s Mom or Sister’s MIL – however you want to look at it. And Mom on the right. This was just before they put on Sarah’s wrist corsage. Hers was coming. So I noticed they had the same brand of wheel chair only Sarah’s was black and Mom’s was blue. So they caught up some and got lots of attention and help with the wheel chairs. The wheel chair was a blessing getting them down to the lakeside. They had front row seating! We were on the 2nd row behind my sister and BIL.

My niece, Sweet E as known in the blogs or Ella, was a beautiful bride. She’s marrying a great guy and he is in the ministry and she is a teacher at a Christian school. They are honeymooning in Punta Cana. I can’t wait to hear about the trip. I did cry. It was beautiful and we are so proud of her.

So at the wedding, we had a taco dinner that was yummy. I have some video clips of the venue site and our drive there in an upcoming video (vlog).

I thought it was sweet that they had a table for those that could not be there (grandparents). My dad is there holding Ella in her chicken suit. lol.

The hard part of the trip was the stay in the hotel. I think all of us longed for home. But it was just a bit far to drive from Culleoka to Lebanon and then back to Mount Juliet – especially given that rain/storms were all around nearby and it was close to 9 when we left festivities. The roads were already developing some fog because we truly were in what I call “a hollar”.

The hotel was kinda hard. I guess I’ll just list the things we didn’t like and then list what we did like about the stay at Hampton Inn/Columbia – mainly b/c there were more things I didn’t like than I did.

What I didn’t like about the experience at Hampton Inn Columbia, TN:

• Red wine stains on the bathroom wall
• Room was kinda dark and dismal
• Room was kinda humid – carpet may have just been cleaned as it was a bit damp
• Dings were here and there in the furniture
• Ripped and unfinished areas in the wall paper
• The first floor window to our room facing the back property was unlocked and the window could easily be opened. (I locked it back.)
• The toilet seat was too low for Mom and I had to get her up off of the seat after we arrived.
• Since then we had to go to the lobby toilet as it was an appropriate handicap seating and bar situation for Mom. Anytime she needed to go we had to go there. And I had to go too. We left the door unlocked incase she needed me (lesson learned) and I stood outside door to keep people from going in.
• We asked for handicap accessible but I guess the toilet doesn’t count. There was a bar but it was directly behind her so how is an 81 year old supposed to reach directly back behind themselves to reach a bar they’d have to be facing it to reach?
• The bed was not that comfortable
• Hampton used to be known for having various types of pillows but these were kinda limp and not all that comfy. It took two for each of us to get us comfortable enough to sleep.
• I got up at 4 am and almost tripped over Mom’s walker – not used to having it right by my bed.
• Mom wanted to sleep with the bathroom light on in case she needed to get up and it shone through the mirror right into my eyes. So I had to sleep with a pillow propped up if I slept on my left side.
• If I slept on my right side, George’s face was right in mine, lol.
• I’m not used to sharing a Queen Bed. We are heavy enough that it seemed like a regular bed.
• Mom coughed some in the night periodically because she was laying flat. She likes her adjustable bed as do I.
• I didn’t like being flat either, but don’t expect hotels to have an adjustable bed. I just missed home.
• I missed Maddie girl snuggling with me so I prayed that the Lord would give me sleep so I wouldn’t just be miserable. I did but woke up several times.
• It was cramped for three people if I’m being honest. It’s because that we are used to only having two people to share a bathroom with for showering, changing clothes, doing make up, having to potty, and three was a bit much since the bathroom was needed a lot for those things mentioned.
• We had to spend some time in the room before we left for the wedding and it was not enough sitting space for three people but that is expected in the type of room we had. Might have been better if we’d had a bigger unit with better seating and and out side space to get ready in, but this is Columbia and it’s not like we were on a week long vacay. So we made do.
• Also not very much room for three people’s luggage and immediately Mom unpacked and set her things about the bathroom and left clothes in there and then we all had to either move it or put it somewhere when we needed to use the space. I’m trying to have grace here but it truly was an issue for me and made me feel like I was in someone else’s space and that I shouldn’t be there.
• The bathroom shower faucet was hard to figure out, it like wound around and around several times so you couldn’t tell if you were getting it hotter or colder or what. I was the only one that took a shower.
• The eggs were that instant kind. The powdery tasting ones. And they did not have bacon but had kielbasa type sausage instead and not a very good one.
• I wish the coffee pot was green for the one that was decaf. I chose the darkest colored one as usually that means Colombian or strong coffee. I’m color trained I guess. However, in their case it was the decaf.
• Overall the hotel kinda needed a little attention – even on the outside to feel more welcoming.
• I left with the impression that Hampton was going downhill and not run like I knew it to be back in the day during my business travel. It’s non-impressive.
• I also left with the decision that I didn’t want to stay in Hampton anymore because some of this was similar to our stay in Hot Springs. It’s a little better there in Arkansas. But not by much.

What I liked about the experience at the Hampton Inn Columbia, TN:

• The staff was very nice and friendly
• We got a text that said to text them back at “this number” if we needed anything and to have a nice stay and asked how things were so far. (I was too nice to say I was disappointed in the looks of the room, though. I had other fish to fry as we head to rush and get ready for wedding and change.)
• Since I knew how the window worked, I felt good knowing if there was a fire on the other side of our door we could get out fairly quickly – except for getting Mom through the window.
• At least there were appropriate handicap restrooms in the lobby!
• For once George didn’t snore
• I was grateful Mom didn’t complain that it was too cold. She just wrapped up in the covers. I was on top of the covers most of the night and it was probably 72 to 74 in there. Mom likes it closer to 78 or 79.
• We originally had planned to have 2 rooms based on many of the reasons above, but it was good that Mom was in the room with us because she DID have some issues finding things, seeing things, and of course needed help getting off the toilet b/c of the low potty. We’d have had to call the front desk I guess to come let us in if she’d had her own room. So a blessing she was with us as she was not in her normal environment.
• The water was hot at least. I couldn’t figure out how to cool it down, so it was a hot shower.
• They had potato hash browns for breakfast and the biscuit was good
• Their coffee was good and hot
• It was nice to have a handicap spot since we had Mom. 🙂

Planning the Week Ahead.

On Saturday’s I look at the calendar and look at my project list (which is broken out across the year) and I plan my week ahead. Normally it’s just a few things I would like to accomplish. I always overbook, but this week, with Mom’s move on top of a few things that are important on my own, I really have a huge week scheduled. But I will say that it’s one I am looking forward to. I hope it is not in vain or that my efforts feel thwarted by anyone’s distaste or unhappiness, but I can only give it the best I can give out of love and it will either be accepted or rejected and I’m used to both. So whatever happens is in other’s hands. But here is my week.

Monday:

• Get the fire boxes under Mom’s bed and keep at our house for safe keeping
• Vlog the packing process
• Put tissue paper in the car for lining Mom’s dresser and chest of drawers with
• Remind mom to pick out two weeks worth of favorite summer outfits and two weeks of favorite winter outfits
• George get the shelves down from the walls in the extra bedroom
• Call Mom’s assisted living place and discuss: when meds start, schedule visit with their local doctor, ask if we have to put name on clothes, what appliances can she take
• Call our broker about my dental insurance that she forgot to get quotes on and was supposed to send and did not 🙄
• Does Mom have the missing doorbell that she took off when trying to install the RING? Or do we need to buy another one.
• Ask our realtor if she knows a good electrician that won’t cost Mom her right arm and leg
• Ask Mom what her trash schedule is so I know when we have to put the trash out each week
• Packing list for Monday: Shower curtain, extra sheets, towels, put blue tape on anything the movers need to pick up, pack Mom’s iron and small ironing board, pack extra light bulbs
• Pack up any other Nic Nacs she wants to bring
• All my personal To Do List stuff gets rolled forward and goes out the window, lol.

Tuesday:

• Pay the rest of the cost of the move. And make sure they received the first check for downpayment.
• Last day of packing for Moms: Snack and microwavable items, silverware and kitchen tools she might need, toiletries, soap, shampoo etc, Kleenex, paper and plastic items
• Vlog the packing process
• Pay Mom’s bills

Wednesday

• Mom’s move in day!
• We need to see if we can get Mom connected to Hallmark channel ASAP
• Make a list of valuables to put on the valuables sheet

Thursday

• Call and begin working with Estate Sell company – probably have to set a date for them to come out and see what there will be to sell. I’ll set it for about 2 to 3 weeks out. So we can get the estate sell date scheduled ASAP so that we can get her house listed ASAP so we can get the funds for assisted living. We have *some time* but we don’t want to linger in case the house takes a while. Always plan for the worst case in case that happens.
• Transfer money from the last account that Mom and Aunt Martha has together. I think the last interest payment has come in. Was waiting for Mom’s move so we can focus on that first but should be able to transfer the $ and let Aunt Martha get her portion out and then contact the bank and close it out.
• Finish setting up at Mom’s. I figure we’ll still need to tie up loose ends with unpacking and/or buying anything she needs.
• Make sure we are set up with my own health insurance through the broker. We will go ahead and pay for July and that will get my cards started etc.
• Considering calling and scheduling Maddie for a trim for the following week. She’ll be cute and clean for the grand kids coming soon and for the hotter weather.
• Start taking food from Mom’s from her freezer and the pantry what she is not taking.
• Buy pennant lights (and a door bell if needed) so we can an electrician scheduled and in the calendar – a few things have to be fixed and installed properly at mom’s before we sell. I want to get it rolling.
• Schedule ourselves to come visit Mom and eat lunch with her on Sunday.

Friday

• I plan to have this day at home to do our laundry, house clean up, do YouTube things, and restock groceries. I will explain to Mom that I need a day!

Saturday

• Visit Mom for a bit
• Go to Mom’s and work 1/2 day there going through things, collecting memorabilia, sorting things out

The following couple of weeks will be spent going through all the things in her house as quickly as I can determining what will stay or go and what Mom might want for her place for later – like some decor for holidays, etc. We will keep memorabilia and let family have anything they would like or need as Mom has blessed that. So we are moving into the next zones of this process. Just sharing this with you and for my own memories.

I decided to go ahead and publish this and I may be instantaneous with these posts for a while. I’m not really getting time to write daily so I may as well just hit publish. I’ll be back when I can. For now, the videos are not missing a beat though.

June 6 – Declutter video

June 13 – Packing for Assisted Living – capturing the packing process

June 20 – Move in Day and a few days following

June 27 – Tentative – But a video in which we “find rest” and “catch you guys up” on what we have not shared so far.

Possible videos upcoming but not determined: Lifetime Bucket list, Starting a Blog, Afternoon Routines.

See you Soon. Wow, what an informative planning post, lol. But these things are all that is consuming my head these days. Plus a lot more I have not shared.