Dad: Why was I worried?

When I was little my Dad would say "Nobody's perfect."....

"But you and I are as close as anyone can get."

Funny, but that smart "alec" (not the first word I typed here) attitude is part of what made me become me. I have a piece of that "Never let them see you sweat" and "show them who's number one even if you feel like crap"

Yesterday, Mom and I spent hours at the bank- organizing, closing, consolidating, etc... and then went to Dad's to meet with financial and administration. Funny, how I can write that in one sentence, yet it was a day full of stress and anxiety. and I do mean a whole day.

When we were done we could've laid down on the floor and slept, but we still had to go through the stress of seeing Dad.

We went back the A wing, whcih is the Altzheimer's wing or Locked wing and he wasn't in his room. we proceeded to the Chapel which they are using as an activity room during renovations. The room was filled. Deb the activities coordinator had them all in there playing a game with bean bags and they were getting ready for snack. All these old women and a few old men were sitting in chairs around the room. Dad was sitting up on the table, legs dangling. I ran over and and gave him a hug and said, "Dad, you look GREAT today" He said, "Of course I do!" I couldn't believe it. It was so him and then all these old ladies giggled! He was a star. Like he was meant to be. And one of the ladies said to me "He has to look nice to come hang out with all us ladies." What a Don Juan! Deb told us that he has been calling one of the ladies Evelyn. (my mom's name). Mom loved that idea. It was like she was there for him all the time. Deb said "Who's this Charles?" and pointed to mom. He said "Well that's Sweet Pea!"

A Christmas with Dad

I know a lot of people read this blog for funny things that the twins do. However, the real purpose of this blog is to act like a journal for me... a supplementary memory if you will.

This was our last traditional Christmas at home with my Dad. He has Alzheimer's. If you have read any of the Angel Shelf entries at the beginning of this blog you will remember some of the frustrations and yes, even funny stories at the beginning of his disease.

I remember the first major symptoms was a couple of summers ago. An avid farmer, Dad couldn't remember the word cucumber. This was a huge inconvenience for him because he always grew too many and so always asked everyone who visited, every time they visited if they needed any cucumbers. Hard to do when you can't remember the damned word. He was smart though. He wrote it down on a little notepad and kept it in his shirt pocket. He'd say "Hey, do you guys need any... uh..." pull the notepad out - look at it- "cucumbers?"

As the years go buy, it gets worse, the funny parts get fewer and fewer. On Christmas Day we told him to go help Matt burn trash. There's not much he can do but he gets bored. He told Matt, "If the fire gets out of control, call the Hubungis" hysterical.

Christmas Eve on our way to Red Lobster, he sang Silent Night with the radio. The best present I ever got.

The day after Christmas we had to put him in Mountain Laurel- a nursing home. They seem to really have their act together. I know this wasnt the most well written passage, but I just wanted to document it now. Maybe later in my free time (laugh here) I will edit it.

Hello, Officer? My Dad is eating my Combos...

Yes, that's right. Sammy's first 9-1-1 call. He yelled at Mike because he stole some of his combos (pretzel snacks). The little shit said "Daddy! I'm calling 911" Pretty soon the phone rings.

Did someone at this number have an emergency?

I'm growing old fast.