Is anyone else coming?

Dad stayed Saturday and Sunday at his house with Mom.  I picked him up Sunday afternoon and brought him ‘home’, except it’s not home yet to him (again).  Sometimes I wonder if the time ‘off’ is worth the days of reorientation when he comes back.
Mom isn’t feeling well, has bloodwork today, and is in some pain in her back and hip.  I convinced her to take an Aleve.  She didn’t think she should tke anything with her other medications.  I guess her pain made her grumpy as she called Dad “dummy’ when she asked him to go into HER bedroom (where he never goes) and get her the telephone.  I guess he couldn’t find it.  Not sure why she didn’t just have him give her the phone that is on the wall where they were with a long cord attached to it.  She could have pointed to it.

Now that he’s back here, he has been acting like a guest rather than someone who has lived here for over 2 years.  A common question is “Is anyone else coming” - I don’t know to whom he is referring, but the answer is nearly always ‘no’.  He asked where Jim was, wanted to know where the other dog was (dead for 6 years).  He wanted to repack his bag last night for when he went home.  It’s going to be a constant explaining and discussing the going home thing today.   Then, too, he could take a nap, wake up, and everything be like it was.   I told him Mom wasn’t feeling well, had some tests at the hospital and he said “She needs someone to help take care of her too” …meaning him.

Sounds petty, I know.  It isn’t unless you’re living the constant repetition coupled with the pity you feel because he can’t be where he wants to be.   

I had lunch with a girl that I grew up on the block with.   Her dad is a retired police officer, a little younger than Daddy.  She told me he said that “Max is a great guy, you won’t find anyone that doesn’t or didn’t like him.”   Made me feel real proud of him and I’m glad she shared it with me.

Filed under Family, Daily Life |