Around three weeks ago, mom's big Sony TV died. She called in the IT person in her retirement community, who gave her the bad news. Apparently, she thought he could fix it. Nope. At least the poor guy unhooked the dead one, brought up a much smaller one from the basement, and set it up for her, so she had one.
Well, that other one was too small for mom see properly these days, so she called me demanding that I find her a new one, and that my cousins recommended a Samsung, so it had to be a Samsung, but smaller than the Sony that died. Okay, fine, but she had no clue what size, etc., and couldn't measure it herself (she can't even stand up straight on a walker, and falls down a lot if she bends over too much).
After much research, I came up with several options, depending on 32" or 43," ranging in price from $300 or so up to $1000. Anything bigger would be too big. After a couple of calls to discuss the size and pic/sound quality of each option, she decided I had to buy her the top of the line 43" one. No prob, but we had to take delivery ourselves, and drive it over there to install it for her. She lives in a different state. She considers this my duty as a daughter, and not at all an imposition.
OMG, she was hovering over us like a bee as hubby and I unpacked it, assembled the base and support arm, attaching it to the back of the TV with screws, then plugging in the power and HDMI cords, firing it up, setting it up to coordinate with her cable box remote, etc. That was no clip on plastic feet for a base. It was solid steel sheet metal.
Then she started arguing that it was all wrong that now she had to push the CBL button on her Comcast remote to turn the TV on and off, instead of the TV one she used to use. Everything else on that remote works the way she's used to using.
Deal with it, mom. Do you want me to tape a note onto your remote to remind you to use the CBL button? She had other issues with the remote not working from across the room.
Turns out her problem with her Comcast remote was that the batteries were dying. She told me she needed to call IT to get them to come replace them for her, because it takes special batteries. Ay yi yi. That remote uses two AA batteries, but she was so clueless. I replaced them for her on the spot, saving her the embarrassment of calling in IT. I don't think she even knew how to pop the back off the remote to even look at the batteries.
Up until maybe two years ago, she retained all her marbles, and she's still not stupid, but she is losing a few, and I'm the only immediate family member she has left. All other relatives are from my nearly decade long deceased dad's side of the family, or are in laws. Many, but not all of them, seem to be sucking up to her lately, out of the blue, when they never used to contact her before. Bucking for some inheritance money, or real concern?
Every time we visit, which is on Saturdays, it really is a road trip to get there from here and back, we have to listen to a few hours worth of complaining about anything and everything while we're there. Sometimes we take her out shopping, too.
Today, mom announced that she had forgotten to give me my Christmas present. Yes, she did. Two visits ago, it was a box of Kleenex. Last time, it was what was left of a box of Belgian chocolates she received that she had trouble opening, and re-gifted to us. She said she meant to write me a check for Christmas. Well, we left today with the check that reimbursed me for the cost of her new TV. Not that I care, but she may or may not realize that wasn't the one that was supposed to be for my present. I don't need the Christmas windfall, but it is funny that she keeps forgetting.
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