As the big day approaches...

...Mamaw's been back and forth about whether she wants to move in with us.

One night last week when Doll was talking with her mom, Mamaw said, "You mean I'm going to leave home and stay with you all?"

That didn't sound promising. Doll said, "Yes, Mom, in two weeks."

Mamaw said, "Oh, my! I'm glad we talked long enough for this to come out. This place has gotten mighty lonely."

Doll assured her that lonely wasn't an option around our place.

Then, as they were finishing up their goodnight ritual, Mamaw interrupted to say, "And, Doll, if anything would happen to me before two weeks is over, know I died happy just looking forward to coming there with you."

After that, she seems to have absorbed the information and isn't surprised every time we talk to her about moving.

A couple of nights ago, Doll had just left her place after taking dinner and Mamaw called to find out if she'd made it home yet. As we chatted, I walked to the back window and saw 5 deer browsing in our lower pasture.

I mentioned them to Mamaw and she asked me where I thought they lived. I told her they live in our woods and we take corn over there for them every morning and every night.

"Oh, I want to help you do that."

Mamaw needs a walker to get around, and we've got a wheelchair on the way for taking her out in the yard, but I said, "Well, it's kind of rough going out there in the woods and I don't think your wheelchair's going to be able to navigate."

She was quiet for a minute, and I remembered something. "Hey, do you remember our dog Casey?"

"No."

"Well, Casey couldn't get around so good after she got older and I used to put her on fluffy pillows in the wheelbarrow and take her on big tours. Casey was a big dog, but she was such a good passenger."

Mamaw got a little bit of excitement going in her voice. "I could be a good...a good..."

"Passenger?"

"Yes! I could be a good passenger."

So, we'll be taking her for wheelbarrow rides out in the woods to feed the deer. She won't be lonely and she won't be bored.


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