Here Comes Jane! (Again)
To be honest, today is a day I feel pretty ambivalent about. Today my sister, Jane comes to stay with Karen and I for the next six months. The other six months of the year, she stays with my other sister, Dorothy and her husband. We decided to share the responsibility when our parents passed away. Jane is 62, has downs syndrome, difficulty walking, needs help with a lot of self-care things, is not especially appreciative, and can be very stubborn. I love Jane and sometimes she can be adorable, but it is still work to have her here. Our time is much more constrained as there are extra meals to be made, much more laundry, physical therapy to do, showers to give, doctors to see, etc., etc. Karen and I are no longer on our own, unencumbered. The whole atmosphere will be different. In the big picture of course, it could be much more difficult. Jane has very few serious medical needs. She can feed herself and is generally content to be on her own. Still, life is about to change radically