During the years we lived in Wisconsin when the kids were young.....we'd jump in the car and hit the road to my mom's house for a Christmas, Easter or birthday visit. Or just a plain visit. For the years between 2002-2010, the kids now grown and gone, Dave and I would travel the route to go down and see mom and help with some house chores or whatever.
We'd often exit at Golf Road......go south on Potter past my old high school.....wind down a few more suburban streets and pull into mom's driveway on Home Avenue.
But now.....whenever we drive down that highway and I notice the Golf Road exit ramp I am immediately pulled back into unhappier memories. Looking east of the highway I can see the large buildings that make up Lutheran General Hospital. And my memory drags me back to our last visit with my mom......the early morning phone call from my sister.....the race to pack a few things in a tote bag.....a quick phone call to ask a friend to come and get our dog.....and the break the speed limit drive to Park Ridge......the ride up a hospital elevator and the walk down a hospital corridor to turn the corner into my mom's hospital room.
Our last hours together.....my last hours with a mom. It was good to be there and so good to be with her, holding her hand, as she breathed her last......dying with my kiss on her forehead.
But now.....my god how I hate to see the sign for the Golf Road exit. Sometimes I'm lucky.....Dave is at the wheel and I'm distracted by a book so we pass it before I realize it's coming up. Yesterday I was looking out the window and it smacked me in the face......and I swiveled my head to the left and saw the hospital and my memories flooded my heart.
Damn I hate that exit.
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