A grim topic for sure. Was just reflecting back today. My 85 year old mother died last month. Not unexpected at all, cirrhosis of the liver from many many years of drinking. Amazed she made it so long, though she was sober the last ten years or so.

I came home from work on a Thursday night and got a message from her care home that something was wrong. Went over and got her to the hospital. Turned out she had a stroke. I was wearing my chocolate Utilikilt Workman's that day and still had it on.

Next day it was obvious this was the end for her and when I went back over to the hospital Friday I just tossed on that chocolate workman's. I wound up staying with her a lot until she died the next Wednesday. The hospital has what they call the PlaneTree model of care which includes no visiting hours, folks can come and go anytime, and I did. I was with her when she died...still in the chocolate workman's.

Wound up wearing it for seven days straight. Was certainly comfortable for all the hours of bedside vigil. Not sure why I never bothered to change to a new kilt, suppose there were so many more things going on that were more important.

When I finally washed it the kilt seemed more broken in than before. Maybe that's the secret, wear the workman's for long hours over many days straight.

Still dealing with the massive paperwork and chores in the aftermath of her passing two weeks ago. This board has been a great respite from those chores. Thanks.

And, an aside. My hand sewn Scott Modern tartan arrived from Kathy Lare a few weeks before her stroke. I went over to her place to show her the kilt - its her mother's clan tartan - and she beamed and smiled. While we were sitting talking later she stopped, and in a most motherly manner said, "You're knees are showing." Cracked me up.

Ron