Funny Questions

She asked another funny question, that mother of mine, but this time I was a little better prepared, and I must admit that I had just woken her up. Perhaps her confusion was really part of a dream. I do have to give her the benefit of the doubt.

She's been coughing and since she doesn't have great lung power, I've been attempting to keep things loose in there with cough medicine. She had her head down on the table when I came in with the dose and tapped her arm. She picked her head up and appeared awake when she swallowed the sticky red liquid. I was already back in the living room when she called to me.

"I don't know about going over to that house," she said with a concerned look on her face. "I'm not sure I should go out with this cold."

"What house?" I asked not having a clue as to what she was talking about.

"I'm not sure," she said. " Weren't we going over to that house to sing or something?" She still looked concerned and even a little confused. She used to go out to area nursing homes quite often with my dad. He would play his banjo or guitar and harmonica and they would sing and visit with the residents.

Not wanting to make her feel silly or confuse her any further, I said "Oh, that's not today," and she was satisfied with the answer. I think she was even relieved. And then I remembered to call and reschedule her appointment at the Hearing Center tomorrow. I don't think she should be going out either.

I was relieved too, relieved that I had an answer for her today even if it was a simple one, and I even walked away from the conversation smiling.