Living in Brisbane, Australia I have an elderly mother living in Te Aroha, New Zealand. Over the last few years, I have been able to travel more often to see her, spending time with her in her home at Kenrick Village.

This year, I visited her in June and during that time, she was informed that a room had become available at the nearby Lawrence House. For her it meant being in a place where she wouldn’t be on her own, with people around to care for her. Of course a move like that always means an adjustment from what life for her had been like for the past 17 years.

It has been a good move.

But it has also meant that I have no longer a place to stay in Te Aroha when I go to visit. So my visit in June was tinged with sadness for what was to be the end of what had become my “norm”. Things like spending the day together whether out and about, or relaxing at home, watching TV at night, taking Mum for a drive everyday in her car (our daily ticky-tour), walking up to Bald Spur and witnessing the sun rise at Waihi Beach.

The end of an era…but isn’t that life.

Ever changing, always changing.