Fixin' Mom's ridge shingles
Channel: Rob Withoff
Date: 2020-09-26

Mom is 95 years old, still sharp as a tack, and lives in her own house. 

She can't do as much as she was able to do anymore, and I go up there to visit and fix things as best I can to help her keep being able to maintain her fierce independence. 

She is a force of nature (her nickname is "Battleship Nellie"), has a pretty deep history-- she was a teenager when WWII happened-- and she has traveled the world and seen some amazing things. 

I'm the youngest and closest sibling, and I'm the one that will be the executor when the time comes. We're preparing for it, and it's scary AF.

I get to let her know that I'm capable, help her feel less lonely, that I respect and admire her, that I listen to her, that I love her, that I will be there. 

Fixing her roof, or to the point that she wanted it done, was a big turning point. 

It's ugly, and utilitarian, and exactly what she wanted. It took away a fear. She has plenty of other fears to face.