After 5 p.m., I’m nervous about taking calls from my parents. Yesterday, my mom calls and asks me for the address of an auction house we just visited. I was in the middle of something, so I tell her I will call her back in about 20 minutes.
I call her back and there is no answer. After about 15 rings, I hear a message that says, “The answering machine is turned off.” I call my dad’s office line and leave a message about the home phone number answering machine being turned off. I try in increments to reach them over the next two hours and give up.
At 7 p.m., my mom calls. “Hey Kay, you called?” I let her know I was calling back with the address and she wonders why I’m calling with this information. She asks if I’m coming over to pay bills tomorrow and I remind her that I was just there today. “Oh, my brain is bad.” We end on a giggle and I let her know I’ll call tomorrow. I’m certain she won’t remember this call tomorrow.
At 7:10 p.m., my mom calls, again. “Hi Kay, you called?” Yes, I did, but we just spoke ten minutes ago. Do you remember that? “Yeah, but I called you from the kitchen, I’m now in my bedroom.” Okay, I will give you a call tomorrow mom.
I really need to get off the phone because this time I can’t stop the giggles and we aren’t doing it together. I know she must go through periods of peace, anxiety, frustration and confusion. But I don’t know how to help her right now. Challenged.