Yesterday was Sunday.  Sunday we take out the garbage because Monday is garbage day.  And yesterday, we forgot to take out the garbage.  So, I got my husband up an hour early to help me get the garbage out.  Had the garbage men come before that time, I would have just called the company and asked them to stop by tomorrow.  They are more than happy to do it, and don't care one bit.  So, it's really no big deal if we forget.  We never usually do, but just in case we do, it's super easy to just get it done the next day.  So, even though we're trying to get it before the guys come, it's honestly not stressful at all.  And it never would have been, had my mother not been involved in every single little bullshit ass thing in our lives that she could.  Now, my choice to become WOTH, mixed with her dementia, she pays absolutely no attention to much anymore. 

At first, her depression kept her from caring.  She literally became depressed because I didn't allow her to be the "woman of the house" anymore.  I actually felt guilty, until I realized that her depression was based on the fact she couldn't control anyone anymore.  Who the fuck gets depressed that they can't control other people?  Crazy ass narcissists, that's who.  Now her dementia has taken away much of her daily life, and all she does is play a video game all day.  Not video games, but one single video game.  She doesn't watch TV.  She does still read, thank goodness.  And she still gardens (although she shouldn't, but I can't stop her and she won't listen--her arthritis in her knee is just going to get worse and she can't get a replacement right now, or possibly ever).  But she doesn't pay attention to much, other than when the grass isn't mowed.  

So, getting my husband up to help me get the garbage out was a daunting task, as he's always hard to wake.  But we did it and it's done and the garbage man haven't come yet, so it will get picked up today.  It wasn't complicated or stressful or crazy, as it would have been if mother had been pounding on our door at 7 am (which she used to do) freaking the fuck out over it.  I am not sure what she thought would happen if we had to wait a week (which we didn't realize at the time we could have just called the company--their motto is "you paid for it, so you get the service").  Yes, it would have been stinkier, but it's outside where nobody hangs out and nobody would have noticed.  But that was my mother, wound up like a balloon animal at a hedgehog convention (thanks to ChatGPT for giving me that metaphor haha, it describes her perfectly LOL).  

Every moment of every single day, she would be up your ass about every little thing that either needed to be done, or the things you were doing that did not require her input, or the things you forgot to do.  She had been that way for my entire life.  Damn, that must have been tiring, being that wound up, being in that state of mind every moment you're awake.  Relax?  No way!  That would give her a panic attack.  In fact, everything gave her a fucking panic attack.  Funny, she used to bash me and berate me and humiliate me for my panic attacks, yet, there she was, having one every single moment of every single day.  I guess when you are one large panic attack yourself, you forget that that's not normal.  Or when you're a narcissist, you probably don't care what's normal and what's not.  Her constant vigilance to every little thing that's going on in her life and in the lives the people around her gave her the illusion of control, but in reality, it just made her look like a psycho and made everyone around her want to punch her.  Also, it made people around her constantly lie to her about things that were not her business to be involved in, just so those people could get some sort of semblance of  privacy.  I still lie to my mother on a regular basis, but now it's more about protecting her from spinning out of control with her thoughts and then us having to do deal with that.  It's just so much easier to only tell her things when she needs to know them.  

I feel bad saying this, but I am grateful for her dementia.  It has helped her to calm down, which makes my life easier.  But even if I wasn't in her life, I would be happy to know that she didn't have to spend every single waking moment of her elder years in a haze of anxiety.  She still has anxiety, but nowhere near the amount she had before.  But not only has her dementia allowed her to be more calm most days (not always), it's allowed me to have a normal existence in my own house.  She still takes advantage of me when I am sick or when I am not home (like during the eclipse).  But most of the time she stays out of the way and allows me to take care of things.  I am sure not willingly some days!  But even if she's wanting to do something annoying, she doesn't do it and just chills out in her room playing her one video game.  

Tomorrow she goes to the neurologist.  And that will give her something else to do (fun, right?).  And some days I take her to get her hair done and then we go book shopping.  But other than that, she stays out of my life, out of my hair, and when she does interact with us, she's usually pretty tame about it.  She still has her crabby days.  Or her hyperactive controlling days.  But they are far and few between now.  Thank goodness.  

So when she annoys me, and I get annoyed, I stop and think about just how far we've come and then I try to let it go.  Because this existence with her?  Is finally tolerable most days.  For all of us.  

Finally.  

Today my mother said in the backseat of the car on the way to the doctor's office "With your birthday coming up, you should give me some of my money so I can take you out to dinner." 

I replied "I hate going out to eat, you know this."  

She said back "Yeah, but this place is vegetarian.  It's called 'brick' something." 

"Yes, Brick House Brewery, I know all about it.  The kids want to go to there."

"Everyone says it's so good.  We should go for your birthday."  

I started seething in the front seat.  Everything about this conversation was pissing me off.  I was rolling my eyes and making faces to make myself feel better.  She couldn't see me.  I know she has dementia.  And I know it's getting worse.  But in this instance, I truly did not know if this was her narcissism or her dementia speaking.  And knowing how she's been in the past, I can only assume it's her narcissism.  But just in case it was her dementia, I didn't say anything back to her.  I let her have her moment of feeling "normal" for a second.  Granted, had it been her dementia, she wouldn't have remembered she doesn't have control of her money. 

Here's what I wanted to say: 

"How can you even fathom taking me out to dinner for my birthday?  You tortured me for YEARS, my entire life, forcing me to go out to eat with you, not only for your birthday, but everyone else's birthday, plus my own.  And never, not once, did you ever take me, or anyone else in my family, where we actually wanted to go.  Back when I was actually vegetarian, I wanted to go to The Greenhouse, remember?  And you said you'd take me.  But on the day of my birthday, you said 'No, we're going to go 'The 6 Pennies'', which was your favorite place to go.  Just like you did every single year for every single person.  Then one day I actually made you go to Famous Dave's for my husband's birthday, you had a meltdown the entire time and screamed at us all the way home.  And I told you then, and I meant it, I would never EVER go out to eat with you again.  That was only five years ago, Ma.  And I've held to that ever since.  Also, what makes you think you could go out to eat?  You have horrible bowel issues that will make you shit your pants if you don't get to a bathroom quick enough after you eat.  I am no longer vegetarian, and haven't been over ten years, and I HATE HATE HATE going out to eat!  I have hated it my entire life and you always knew it and still know it!!  And you love it so very much so you forced me to go with you!!!  You'd take me out to eat, and I'd always have a horrible panic attack during dinner, and you'd use that time to shame me and pick on me and make fun of me!!!  WHY WOULD I EVER WANT TO SUBJECT MYSELF TO THAT AGAIN?????!!  Please, kindly, go fuck yourself with that shit.  And kiss my ass because I would rather shit in the middle of the mall's food court on top of a table then go out to eat with you again!!" 

But I didn't say any of that.  I didn't even answer her.  I just let her ramble on about what she read about the restaurant and thought of something else in my mind while she spoke.  

I hate going places with her.  I hate talking to her most of the time.  Sometimes she's nice to talk to.  But mostly, she's telling me what to do, or asking me for shit.  OR coming up with stupid way to try to ruin my birthday.  

Well, it's a month or so away.  I'll come up with something to do with my ACTUAL family instead.  I don't need to worry about what the old woman that I take care of wants for my birthday.  Because it has nothing to do with her at all. 

Actual picture my son took of the eclipse.

So, over last weekend, we drove down to Carbondale, Illinois to watch the eclipse on Monday.  We wanted to see the full eclipse, because where we live, we only had a partial view of it.  And I've never seen a full real one, and OMG I was not prepared for what I saw!  I mean, this picture above is one my son took and that's what it looked like in real life!  All I can say was when I finally took off my glasses and looked up I, I gasped and tears filled my eyes because it was an astronomical marvel!  Yes, it only lasted for a little more than three minutes, but wow, those three minutes were utter amazingness.  In those moments I felt a part of something truly awesome and something everyone around us were a part of it, too.  In those moments, I felt so utterly human, so aware of my smallness and the bigness of the universe around me.  It was truly humbling.  I had no words.  I was speechless.  

Afterwards, we travelled around Shawnee National Forest and got lost.  We started following random signs and we ended up here: 

Burden Falls.  This was truly amazing and awesome!  Not as much as the eclipse, but it was great in its own right.  

We stayed at a few hotels, one was super fancy!  The other ones were crappy compared to that one.  They were discriminatory though, as they didn't allow us to get free breakfast, even though we paid over $200 for the room.  All because we got a slight discount through Expedia (nowhere does it say that on the website).  I found that be a bit assholey.  But whatever.  

Then we get home and.....it all starts over again.  I found out that my mother acted like a little kid, like she always does whenever I am gone, and disregarded my rules and did however she pleased.  And then she came to my bedroom door, while my kids were on my bed loving up the dog we didn't take with us (Arthur, who was super depressed while we were gone), and she put one foot into my room.  I said to myself "Oh wow, there's her foot, pretty soon her body will follow".  And sure enough, came the second foot.  Then she started scooting in.  I was standing there, facing her, and she didn't care.  I think she thought her "inching" into my room would go unnoticed, but eventually, after she started craning her neck around my TV, I said enough was enough.  So I said "I need to go get my water from the kitchen" and then started walking towards her to usher her out.  She went without complaining, thank goodness. but now I have to watch her.  She's lately been asking to open my door for my dogs, and asking the kids to let her go in my room while I am sleeping to get her cigarettes.  Um...like that's ever going to happen. So, this incident, while may be a one-off thing, I need to pay attention to, so I don't wake up one day with her sneaking around my room.  

On the way to Carbondale, we stopped to see some family of mine.  It was weird.  Like it always is.  And I was glad to leave.  I hate small talk.  And I was soooo tired because forced socialization makes me sleepy AF.  One of the family members was planning on coming with us, but decided not to go, and I was soooooo glad!  My family and I are best left to our own devices.  I can't have actual fun with strangers tagging along.  

It was a really fun trip.  Except for the part where I found out that I am prolly allergic to milk.  So that was fun.  And extremely anxiety inducing.  And a huge part of my diet is milk, so now I guess I am going to learn how be milk-free.  I used to not eat dairy, because I was told my allergist that I was allergic to dairy (and they said I was allergic to peanuts, soy, wheat, and eggs).  And it turns it, I wasn't allergic to any of them (at the time).  They had tested me and I reacted to all of those things, but then again, I also reacted to everything else, plus the negative (which you aren't supposed to react to).  But now I have to learn how to eat dairy free foods all over again, as it's been a long time since I've done that.  

I will call my doctor tomorrow and see about getting an appointment with an allergist to see what's up.  Granted, I wont eat any dairy until then, but most likely, I will never eat dairy again.  

I hate being allergic to a food.  It scares me.  But, my hubby is allergic to anchovies and my oldest son is allergic to shrimp (he has FPIES).  

So I spent a large amount of my time worrying about this, but before that happened, I was having a blast :)  I even walked around the national forest by myself (with my dog) and didn't have any anxiety.  It was great!  

I can't let my mother shadow our trip with her assholery.  I won't let her.  Because that's what she wants to do.  So, instead, I am going to just remember this trip as one of a awesomeness :)  I got to spend a bunch of time with my kids and we all had so much fun together.  That's all that matters.  My hubby stayed home because of his job and he took care of my crazy mother (and our other wonderful dog).  I wish he could have come with, but even with just us three, we had a blast.  The eclipse was an amazing experience and I am so happy that I actually went with (I was terrified of going, as I hate traveling).  

And that's it.  Nothing else.  My mother can go be a ding-dong however much she likes, and she can't ruin it for us.  I have to stop letting her ruin anything for us.  Because while I was there, I did find a home for her to go to.  So, if all else fails, I know where mother will be living LOL 

Shady Pines, ma!!