"This is a gift for you," a quiet voice in my head seemed to roar.”

"She is here to fulfill your dream of generational cookie making and love. Florence doesn’t need to be here anymore. She is here only for you, doll suitcase and all. The love is hers to give. Hell, she even brought your favorite doll’s shoes."

This does not feel like I thought it would. I never pictured Mom needing care, she was so strong. But the dominos fall and Mom moved into memory care and I traveled to close up her home of 44 years. The voice was right, this was for me. It was chance to look a life time of love in the face and see what it is I still have.