One afternoon I even made a joke about it.

“At this rate, Mom,” I said, breezing past her toward my laptop, “you’re going to go back home looking like a pampered, well-fed lady.”

She gave me a weak, strained smile.

“It’s just some bloating, sweetie,” she said.

“And my lower back’s been aching a little.”

So I bought her heat patches for her back.

I patted her on the shoulder, told her to take it easy, and went straight back to my screen.

I have thought about that shoulder-pat more times than I can count.