The Pumpkin Pie Delivery

Mom had become the primary driver in the family once Dad lost his eyesight.  A few times she didn't know where she was when she was just a few miles from home.  Dad would have to navigate her back home.  When she fell and shattered her shoulder in June 2003, she was not able to drive.  But as she recovered she was itching to get behind the wheel again.  None of us thought that was a good thing.  We had the doctor tell her that until she regained full mobility in the shoulder that she shouldn't be driving.  Since she all but refused to do the necessary therapy, her shoulder would never be back the way it was.  She was resigned to the fact that that she couldn't drive.

After that point, whenever she spoke up about driving, we would remind her of her shoulder and she wouldn't bring it up again.  We really didn't want to take the keys away from her, since that is such a sign of independence in old folks.  Her driver's license was set to expire in October 2004 anyway, and after that, there was no way she would ever pass a written or driving exam again.  We always made sure that she and Dad had a ride to church, or to wherever they needed to go.  Finally Mom's 88th birthday arrived, and her license expired.  We told her that her license was expired and she was done driving.  That was a relief.

Thanksgiving 2004 was like many others that we had.  It was just the immediate family, but that still added up to about 20 of us eating at noon.  Everyone stuck around for a long time, and even ate supper at Mom and Dad's too.  My niece and nephew stayed down at my house, just across the road, that night.  Later that night, there was a big rain storm.

The next morning I went to check in on Mom and Dad as is my routine.  On the kitchen table was a note from Mom.  It said, "Went to Jerry's to deliver a pie.  3 A.M."  I looked at this and was a bit puzzled.  I went out to their garage and the car was sitting about a foot further back from where it normally should be.  I got into the driver's side and the dash lights were on.  The keys were in the ignition; the car was in neutral.  In the passenger's seat was a half of a pumpkin pie, with no cover on it.

Then I was a little concerned.  Did she really go to my house at 3 a.m., or intend to and then forgot, or just what the heck went on there.  I told my sister what I had found, and told her to give Mom a little interrogation.  She asked Mom if she really went down to my place at 3 a.m.  She said, "Yes, but I decided that it was just raining too hard to get out of the car.  So I turned around and came back home".

That was Mom's last driving adventure.  After that, we had to start hiding the car keys. 

 

Comments

[scott]

Have a happy Thanksgiving.

[Mike (exscientia)]

Geez-a-lou! And ....

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!

[Sonia]

Jerry, I like so much this story! Lovely!
Your Mom looks just adorable!
You look a nice and a good son!
I found your blog some times ago, but I just rediscovery it again and I think it's amazing! I enjoy reading it and learning about you.
I am from São Paulo, Brazil and I am living in country, too.
I would like if you make a visit on my blog, "Leaves of Grass". I do my best to post in English. Many times it's hard and I made many mistakes.
Best regards, Sonia.

[Sonia]

Me again.
I wish to you and all your family a HAPPY AND LOVELY THANKSGIVING!

[cliff]

Jerry
That's a great story. Hope you have a Happy Thanksgiving. We are in Tekamah this Thanksgiving at the Morrow's. Cliff has done a great deal of cooking already this AM - he cook breakfast for quite a few and is now working on Thanksgiving dinner.
Ralph

[Jamie Dawn]

Whew! Make sure you continue to keep those keys hidden.
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving. You are a good son, and I am sure your parents are soooo thankful for you.
We travelled all day yesterday to spend Thanksgiving with my hubby's family. We will be gorging in about two hours from now. I can hardly wait!

[cliff]

spoooky. I think you and I had visited in person about this event. But I guess alls well that ends well.