It's been an interesting past year.  For the last nine months of that year my mother-in-law, Betty, has been living with us. This had been something we were planning on doing and after she took a fall in January we realized she couldn't live alone any longer.

Betty moved in and became not just family, but a member under the same roof.  Daughter moved to another bedroom and Grandma got her own room next to the bathroom. We have an older house with the bathroom separating the original two bedrooms.  It seemed natural for Betty to have one of these bedrooms.

Other adjustments were made over the nine months.  I realized I would have to really remember to unlock the door to the bathroom, or Betty would have to walk out of her room, through the dining room, living room, and our bedroom to get to the bathroom.  Mea Culpa. Daughter made a the adjustment to a smaller room very well.  Son #3 moved home and got to know Grandma better.  Son #1 and his wife would stop by often to sit with Betty.  I came to adore NCIS and Daughter even started calling me Gibbs.  We sat at the table for meals more often and that was good.  Eventually evening meals were spent watching Jeopardy! and talking.  As the months moved on, so did our routines. Meals were moved into the bedroom as Betty became more bedridden, but we were still together.

Family members and friends came to see Betty and we enjoyed the time with them and watching them talk with Betty. Eventually as nature will do, Betty died six days short of her 82 birthday.  She was surrounded by four of her children, and a grandson and wife. a graceful end to a wonderful life.

Yesterday we hosted a celebration of Betty's life with friends and family telling stories of Betty, reacquainting with each other and doing what Betty wanted us to do, have a party.  It was interesting to hear stories from friends that we had never heard before along with the repeats of tales long forgotten.  Quite a life for a woman that ice skated to school on the streets of Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota.  She would have enjoyed the time.

For us, it was an honor to care for Mom, Mother-in-law and Grandma.