Mia Familia

What is it about Lawrence Welk that brings families together, just like the good ole days?  This past weekend I traveled to my home state to visit my mother.  Mom has had a pretty rough year health wise and driving home I was concerned that she would be more feeble than the last time I saw her.....boy was I wrong!

My visit was a surprise (mostly because I didn't want her to worry and fret about me making the 5 1/2 hour drive all alone), so when I walked into her room at the assisted living facility she was shocked to see me.  But what was more important is that she looked great.....her color is good, she is as feisty as ever and she had just had her hair done at the on site beauty parlor....

The staff at the facility just absolutely love her and are at her beck and call....she is socializing (3 new girlfriends: Marlene, Lisa and Barbara.  They all eat together at the same table in the dining room!), playing bingo and just generally interacting with everyone.  She is no longer staying in bed all day....she has re-joined the living and I am so very glad of that.  This has been the best decision we have ever made....

So, back to Lawrence Welk.....on Saturday evening my mother came to my brother and sister-in-laws house for dinner.  After dinner we called her brother, Jim and his wife, Jane to come visit....at 7:00 pm (on the dot) every Saturday evening the local public television station plays the old Lawrence Welk shows....both mom and Aunt Jane are avid fans.  It was so wonderful to see them watching the show, interacting and talking about the cast as if they were actual family members.  

Watching them jabbering and eating dessert took me way back.....for 30 minutes it was 1960 again and as I choked back the tears I said a little prayer for Lawrence Welk and his bubble machine!