And Who Says God Doesn't Have a Sense of Humor!

There truly are things that go beyond where our imagination can take us. That happened to me in the last 72 hours.

Wednesday night I had a call that my Dad was experiencing left sided weakness and that he should go to the hospital. He did, and while the weakness subsided, it was discovered that he had a bladder infection and was dehydrated, possibly side-effects from the flu he had a couple weeks ago that  put him at risk of dehydration. So, that gave him a bed at the hospital.

Nearly 24 hours from that point, I get a call that my Mother was having- yes, you guessed it-left sided weakness, though she also was having left facial droop and slurred speech. Sounded like a significant stroke to me- so off she went to the same hospital emergency department! The scans and blood work could  not find evidence of a stroke so she was sent back to the assisted living site.

Really???? 24 hours apart?!  Well, you have to realize that these two made a pact many years ago, that "they would go out together."  Was that REALLY happening last night?!  Could it be possible for their love to transcend distance and illness?  Their 66 years of married life may actually do it- like "The Notebook" couple. 

My heart felt stopped. I was more frozen than I've ever been. I wasn't sure what exactly was going on-there have been so many "events" where I think- This is it, he can't possibly make it through this, yet he does.  I talked with friends about being uneasily numb, so numb that I couldn't cry.

I did see Dad today at the hospital-he was more confused than usual, but we could talk and just "be" together, watching the TV for the news on the apprehension of the Boston Marathon Bomber. He was engaged in the news like I hadn't seen him in some time. I said Good-Bye, with one of those studied looks to remember looking into his eyes that look back at me.  He thought he should come home with me, too. I had to tell him that his Doctor hadn't discharged him yet, so he agreed to stay. He is scheduled to leave Saturday.

And I work at yielding him and my Mom to  the Lord.  We are told we don't know the day or the hour-and we really don't.  So many of my Father's contemporaries are leaving this world peaceably.  I pray the same for him. 

The Lord is going to Love Him..

90 years and runnin

And it's now officially 90 years for Ralph.  This now makes him the oldest of his siblings and the oldest-lived.  We family, celebrated his birthday with cheesecake, fresh fruit and coffee. He was quite pleased with the number of family members who showed up (like 17!) My aunt and uncle and cousins were, I think, happy to be there for a Happy Event- not a funeral!

So, 90 years it is. And continued good life we'll pray for.

The Longest Good-Bye

My Dad had a serious bout of the flu last weekend. Easter weekend, in fact.  I am now being told that he weighs 119 pounds.  He probably wasn't more than that prior to the flu, his system is just not absorbing food anymore. 

Before his "episode" of the flu, I was able to ask him questions about how he wants his funeral handled- Open or Closed Casket: Open "I want people to know who's in there."  Casual clothes or Suit: SUIT!  "I think I have a green one-that's the one I'd like (he does have a green suit- right on target with that).  I told him of this amazing group of caskets that are hand-made by Trappist Monks in Dubuque, Iowa- he liked that idea too.

We had a chance to return to his room and watched a "Seven Stations of the Cross" on the Catholic Television network. It was Holy Saturday and watching a reenactment of Jesus journey through Jerusalem to his crucifixion on Good Friday seemed appropriate.  Dad was able to watch the show and comment appropriately-it may have been just slow enough for him to follow. He even commented that the man narrating the story was "very good."

There are many "events" I replay in my mind in this past week-the times my Dad helped pick me up from my early days at college, when I was homesick. When he would sit and talk to me about the heartache of losing a boyfriend.  He advised my friends and my friends' boyfriends on life events. With his self-effacing humor and interest in the journey of young people, he made everyone feel like he was there to be a friend, even a "cheerleader" to take them through life.

Now, we the younger people are taking him through his journey to eternal life. His inability to keep weight on will be his demise. I've had to review the memos to myself nearly a year ago when we decided any further treatment would be futile.  I still had opportunities to enjoy each and every visit for an entire year. I still make a point to take a snapshot in my mind with each visit and interaction-almost like having my mind "freeze" the moment, so I always remember it.