Saturday, October 3, 2015

Hotel de Pillville: a retrospective



First read this.  The flow chart still makes me laugh hysterically.

Traveling with my mom is easier now that she doesn't smoke. Last night we stayed at an Embassy Suites. I chose the couch in the living room and let my mom have the bedroom to herself. There was some pretty terrifying shouting at the dead around midnight. She was yelling at her twin sister Millie. If I'd already been asleep, I'm sure the noise would have awakened me, heart pounding. As it was, I just got a case of the goosebumps and resolved to fling open the door to the hallway and run if a ghost came through the bedroom door.

Last evening as she was wheeled off the plane with the aid of an aisle-sized wheel chair and three attendants, the logistics of it all blocked the incoming crew from boarding. The end of the jetway was lined with people in navy blue as she was transferred to her own wheelchair. This is my last flight, she told them. I'm coming home. I'm not sure if she actually spoke the words to die. But it was in the air. Not a single person tapped a toe or sighed impatiently. They waited, almost at attention, thanking us for flying Delta, telling her to have a good time, a good night, to rest.

My mom is exhausted. She's still asleep. I have her toast and coffee ready. I'll have to wake her soon. Then Pillville will be hitting the road.


5 comments:

Ms. Moon said...

On her way home...

Mel said...

Thinking of you both on this journey. Thank you for writing your way through it and sharing it with us. Your mom is amazing, and so are you.

A said...

I second Mel's comment.

Elizabeth said...

Oh, you're still spinning beautiful words and images, Denise. With that undercurrent of love, sadness and dark, dark humor.

37paddington said...

Your mom is making her peace with everything.