Electric Recliner

I thought that I would share an update with you on my dad. When I got to the hospice after traveling from the airport everyone was here! Well not everyone, but a lot of people were. My dad's and mom's good friends Kim and Jerry were there, as well as my cousin Bruce and his wife Tami (who I met for the first time in my last visit in November......first cousin's and our first meeting was almost 30 years later?) and my other cousin 1st cousin Brian. (again first meeting, 27 years) Daryl had told me that today was a very good day He was talking clearly and alert and wanting to see everyone..but by the time I got there he was tired and he was sleeping again. I was apprehensive.....but I eventually wandered in the room from the common area where we were all talking and gave him a kiss. I sat with him and tried to converse, but the day had wore him out and he was beginning to get hard to understand. The tumor is beginning to regrow and it along with the infection are causing swelling and pressure in the brain that are pushing against the part of the brain that control speech. Certain phrases come out jumbled.I figured I would let him rest since I would be there all night and for a couple of days.

Friday night I went to dinner with Bruce, Tami, and Brian. We went to this local restaurant called BubbaQues. It was a total hick BBQ chain joint. It had that cafeteria type feel, with fishing lures decor, wooden posts and a trash can with a toilet seat as the lid. Brian was a little apprehensive because of the misspellings everywhere...."We kin kater yer next party." We all got our fill of the cuisine and headed back. Because of my trip I was so tired, when everyone decided to leave for the evening I tried to crash out. That didn't go over too well because I was nervous about everything, and every rustle in the bed, sounds in the hall, everything woke me up.

On Saturday we had a good day. Dad was hungry so the kitchen staff....who could ruin toast....made him some scrambled eggs and sausage. He was very alert and talking very clearly. Even when you think he is sleeping, unless his mouth is hanging open or he is snoring, he was awake and listening to the conversation. He would add in a couple of "love you's" or "that's right" kinda comments and he would smile at every story that was told. There have been A LOT of fun times. Brian and dad took a nap around 1 and I went and called Darin to check on our move...poor guy had to move without me. We have had a whirlwind of visitors and everyday it is nice to see a new or even old face. It really lights up his face. At about 2pm my cousin Bruce, Tami and their 2 kids Hayley and Gavin arrived, but dad was zonked out. We had a nice conversation outside and then once he finally stirred the kids went in to talk to their Uncle Bobby. After a good conversation dad worked up an appetite and wanted some dinner. We had planned on going to "The Abbey" for their famous chicken wings and we were going to bring back some for daddy. We get their and Brian orders 20, I order 10 and Bruce ordered 10, Hayley ordered a grilled cheese (another favorite of mine) Gavin had chicken strips, and Tami had nachos. Not even three minutes later the waitress came back with menu's stating that they were completely out of chicken wings.....at 5PM....on a Saturday! WHAT?!?! Bummed I ordered my grilled cheese and proceeded to teach my niece how to make a hat out of a cloth napkin and try and keep up conversation between siblings that equally wanted my attention. Whew, what a chore! We brought back some chicken strips for dad and then the nurse decided that we should try and put him into the recliner in the room. We sat there for a good 10 minutes before we realized the damn thing was electric. It had a button to lean you back into a supine position as well as one that can assist you out of the chair! If the damn thing hadn't been so ugly I might have considered taking it home with me! We had visitors from John, Charlene and Dan. (??) After all that we had to say goodnight to my cousin Brian as he had to return on Sunday back to Massachusetts to his newborn baby girl Sophia and his wife Liz.

Sunday was another eventful day of visitors, we had the neighbors Jeff and Stacy, Jerry, James, neighbors Wendy and Joe, Doug and Debbie, and I am sure there was someone else that I am missing (sorry to that person.....wait....New York Steve!) I heard many wonderfully funny stories and we had some more Abbey food brought in to us from Doug and Debbie. Sunday and Monday (today) were slower days. Dad woke up later in the day and took longer naps, but is still talking and involved in the conversation. Visitor's were slower too. (work day and all) My Aunt Marcia, my mom's best friends dad Papaw, neighbor Jeff's mother and sister, Doug, and neighbor Joe brought us pizza from Franchesca's. After we ate John brought us some Gnarley Head wine. We popped that bad boy and as Daryl was pouring a nurse said, "You can't drink wine." So we didn't....we had dark red raspberry tea in coffee cups :-P Now here I am at 11 PM after this whirlwind. Utterly exhausted from emotions, but am so very glad to see just how many people love my dad. He is a wonderful human being and loves most everyone he comes into contact with wholeheartedly. I can only hope to be half the person he is.

Tomorrow my uncle Brian and my dad's two very best friends from childhood are coming. It will be another wonderful day of stories and love from all sides. We are truly blessed to have the people that we have in our lives. We have family and our second families (friends) and we should cherish every moment that we have with them. I hope that after reading this, you go to those that you love and give them a hug. Tell them you love them whenever you get a chance, forgive them when they make mistakes, and just always be there when they need you and they are there for you when you are in need.

Love you all