I read a book for the first time in a while

Things I thought about when I started note

Many people are reading books

When I look back at myself, I realize I haven't been reading much lately

Writing on note makes me feel pathetic about my lack of vocabulary. I've decided to assume this is due to the difference in the amount of reading I do

However, to make more excuses, there weren't any books I wanted to read (lol). It's really just an excuse, though

Last month, I felt like reading 'Lion no Oyatsu' (Lion's Snacks), which was introduced by a noter I exchanged comments with

A story you can't imagine from the title

A hospice called 'Lion House' where one arrives after being told by their doctor how much time they have left in their life

The 'snacks' served at the tea party every Sunday

The guests (people spending their final days here) request a snack from their memories that they want to eat one more time, and each time, someone's snack is faithfully recreated

What is the snack I would want to eat at the end of my life?

I can't think of one even if I try

But, I do have a snack from my memories

The round donuts I used to make before going to work when my children were small

Bite-sized round donuts made by putting the dough in a bag and dropping it little by little into the oil

I would coat them in sugar and leave them in a yellow enamel container so the children could eat them when they got home from school

How nostalgic

Returning to the topic of the book

You don't have to force yourself to do things you can't; just spend your time freely

That is something like the rule of the Lion House

Looking forward to morning porridge, looking forward to Sunday snacks, and spending the day freely

While facing pain, spending the final days as peacefully as possible

There is a scene where the protagonist talks to people who came to see her one after another from heaven before the end

At this time, the protagonist seems to be sleeping

She no longer even knows if this is reality or a dream

But she looks happy

A reunion with her 'father' who made it just in time for the end

A younger sister she meets for the first time

Going together to the vineyard she loves and showing her the sea

That is because she wants to leave behind memories of the beautiful sea scenery, not memories of her emaciated self on the verge of death

There, the protagonist, who should not have been able to move, stood up and walked

Everyone was surprised

Surely this must have been her 'angel's time'

After that, she welcomed the next tea party, and then departed while being watched over by the staff

Reading this book, I think that I would like to be watched over like this when I reach my end

I remembered my mother's final moments

It was in the middle of the night, and given the circumstances, no one could make it in time

My mother was breathing with all her might, so her mouth was wide open

But there was no pain on her face

I suppose that was thanks to palliative care

The person who lived with my mother told me later that on that day, before the ambulance arrived, she had been adjusting her clothes as her consciousness faded.

Mom, that's just like you☘️

Here is the article that introduced me to this book

Thank you so much, kaori-san✨

We won't know how we will face the "death" that will inevitably come until the time actually arrives

This article also touches upon a "death" that came suddenly

Yuzu-chan works as a caregiver

This is a true story

The "I love you" that never reached her
It is very heartbreaking, but it is a work I want you to read

Click here for my article on "Angel's Time"

The day my mother died

Thank you for reading ☘️

December starts tomorrow, please take care of yourself 😊