Category Archives: mother

Shiso for my mother

Posted on July 26, 2020 by jyourist

This year the shiso is growing everywhere, three kinds– green, red, and bi-color. Last year we let all the shiso go to seed and the plant– lush, resilient, and exuberant — has placed itself into every nook and cranny in … Continue reading →

Posted in garden, mother | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Steering between the setting moon and the rising sun

Posted on October 19, 2016 by jyourist

Monthly I travel to Ann Arbor to visit my mother in an assisted living facility. On this last visit, I took her to get her hair done which includes molding her hair into a virtual sculpture by using enormous amounts of hair spray. We waited … Continue reading →

Posted in aging, family, moon, mother, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

I’ll see you later. MUCH later.

Posted on March 24, 2016 by jyourist

My mother called me a couple of weeks ago from her assisted living facility in Ann Arbor. My sister was with her and they used her facetime. “This is the last time you will see my face.” “What do you … Continue reading →

Posted in aging, death, mother, Parkinson's, transition | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

All she wants to do is hold your hand

Posted on February 7, 2016 by jyourist

When Merle died, a man who lived in the same assisted living facility as my mother Pearl, she told me his last words were, “Pearl. Pearl. Pearl.” I asked her how she knew that. Then she said, “I don’t know … Continue reading →

Posted in aging, beauty, family, mother, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

My mother calls to tell me I have cancer

Posted on January 31, 2016 by jyourist

My 88 year old mother called me about 10:00 yesterday morning, from the assisted living facility she is in. xxx“Did you go to the doctor?” she said. xxx“For what I answered. My cold is over. No more xxxcoughing.” xxx“You know … Continue reading →

Posted in aging, health, mother | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

I feel better already

Posted on January 9, 2016 by jyourist

I just finished talking with my 88 year-old mother who is in assisted living, in a memory-enhanced unit. This last week I was pretty sick, had the chills, couldn’t get warm, but now I am on the upswing with just … Continue reading →

Posted in mother, motherhood | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Memory Lane

Posted on December 28, 2015 by jyourist

Each time I get in to Ann Arbor to visit my mother, I try to do some sort of activity with her and some of the ladies in her wing. In November we made cards using stamps and last week … Continue reading →

Posted in aging, compassion, creativity, family, memory, mother | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

“After 37 Years My Mother Apologizes for My Childhood” by Sharon Olds

Posted on November 27, 2015 by jyourist

When you tilted toward me, arms out like someone trying to walk through a fire, when you swayed toward me, crying out you were sorry for what you had done to me, your eyes filling with terrible liquid like balls … Continue reading →

Posted in mother, motherhood, poetry | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Appointments for body parts

Posted on August 10, 2015 by jyourist

Three of my mother’s appointments today —  hair, teeth, ears. The hair needs to look good. It helps to frame the face. My father used to call a woman’s hair her crowning glory. It reflects someone who clearly still cares … Continue reading →

Posted in aging, mother | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments