Update on Maiden Voyage

Well , boys and girls , our first evening out was a resounding success ! The program manager came a little early to get acclimated ...she was to stay and overlap the volunteer's time (as this was the maiden voyage for the volunteer , too !) . I returned from my meeting to find her hand firmly clasped by Mother and the two of them enjoying HGTV . She is a lovely woman , inside and out , and a good "fit" for us now . The next evening is scheduled , with much flexibility offered . The following day brought a call from the manager , with a great report on the night together and thanks given to me ! for a wonderful experience ! "See ," she said , "You didn't have to worry so much !". My concern was that Mother would behave badly (as she sometimes does ) and chase away the very people needed to help us . I was reassured that the volunteers were trained to cope with just such behavior , ascribing it to the disease , not the patient . The behavior exhibited that evening was like that of our kids with a new babysitter...you come back to rave reviews and wonder if the aliens swapped bodies while you were gone...surely the sitter couldn't be talking about your kids !! Oh , well , better she behaves well to outsiders and leaves me to handle the challenging stuff .
There was a lovely surprise along the way home that night . A small woodland pond by the side of the road was the site of my favorite Summer sound...peepers ! The tiny tree frogs sound forth in glad song to lift my spirits every time ! It was a small blessing for this new phase of our lives and I am so very grateful !