Rutledge Place

Prior to moving in with us  Mom lived in Columbia SC for 10 years.  My sister and her husband moved there several years before Mom and encouraged her to move down there near them.  Tired of the cold winters Mom made the move.  She lived in a 3 bedroom, 2 1/2 bath townhouse condo in Carriage Trace fixing up her new home with the help of my sister and her husband.  Mom's love however was for her "garden" outside her front door.  She would spend all day outside when the weather was good digging, planting, and tending to her garden.
 For two years Mom talked about going home everyday back to SC and still continues to bring it up although not as regularly.  This past summer we stopped in SC to work on her condo on the way back from Florida.  With trepidation I decided to take a chance and bring mom back to her condo for a visit.  Everything from the condo had been removed either by me or my sister so I was concerned what her reaction might be.

We arrived and she stepped out of the car looking at her home which she had not seen in 2 1/2 years and said," I use to live her about 20 years ago.  It sure hasn't changed much."  We went inside and she looked around.  I could tell she enjoyed seeing her old place but never once asked me where any of her things were.
I asked her if she would like to live here again and she said,  "No why would I want to be here when all my things are back home."   Even though I knew she was speaking through confusion  I have to say I was so relieved hearing her say that because I have always felt guilty taking her away from her home on the sly so to speak.