Why Bother?

The new medication seems to be working. At least, there haven't been any side effects on the half-dose. Full dose starts next Monday. I recognize my mother more often in the past few days.
The other day, I dragged her into her favorite clothes store. For the past year (I guess since the diagnosis) she has had no interest in making purchases (as though she thinks it's futile). Luck was with us... right inside the store, on sale, were exactly the items we needed (and love). She came home and put her purchases on the bed to admire them. :) So, I repeated the experience for new nightgowns. And she was happy with that as well. I think it's important to «invest in tomorrow», to do as though tomorrow will come, rather than hunker down and wait for the worst to happen.
There's been a tiny break in the weather... enough to have breakfast on the veranda this morning. The poppies have started blooming in the garden, so I went to pick some and to take pictures of the activity. Some bearded irises, daylilies, bachelor's buttons and the peonies that are starting to unfold with the help of busy ants.
We will be going out later this afternoon, to get a shovel to replace the broken one, so I can do a bit of gardening, to get some groceries and to have dinner on a terrace.
It's this quality of life I find important. Had Mum been placed in a retirement home, she wouldn't have the pleasure of breakfast on the veranda and usual day-to-day activities. And this, for me, is what gives full measure and sense to caregiving.