Just a thought… Life is a constant becoming: all stages lead to the beginning of others. [George Bernard Shaw]
Hello and welcome to a new week. This will be a short journal; I’ve had little success in publishing this for you in the past few attempts from afar, whether Ontario or Mexico. For the third straight Monday I find myself far from home, but at least I’m in the same province!
Rob and I are in Kelowna, BC helping my sister Leslie aid my father in moving from a retirement residence to assisted living. We thought when he moved out of the house he shared with my now-late mom that we managed to purge before we packed; that has turned out to be untrue.
It’s been a very long weekend of going through photos, letters, and so many mementoes of, not only his life, but that of his parents and even his grandparents. I’ve been quietly thrilled to find some of my homemade cards and some letters I wrote to Dad over the years. Many expressed how I missed him when he was away (as an officer in the armed forces). My artwork was heinous, my rhymes were pretty good and it’s nice to know they were treasured. Still, out they went….
Dad, whose mind has been slipping with alarming alacrity over the past year (we can pinpoint two long hospital stays: one with Covid and a severe infection, the second with gall stones and nothing short of neglect that led to his physical deterioration as well over a five-week period) and now we’re holding on to faint hope that he’ll manage to make a life here at his new home where there’s a nurse on call and the possibility of a fuller existence.
He’s his cheery self despite a fall a week ago that is causing him pain and as we try to wean him from my sister’s overnight assistance, we leave tomorrow knowing that he’s in good hands and we’re doing all we can for “dear old Dad.” He’ll forget by next week that Rob and I were here, but we know. And we’ll hope that this new step in his life lasts long and brings him comfort. And that the sister who’s taken on such a heavy load in caring for Dad is able to keep carrying it – for all our sakes.
I’ll be back next week and I promise a video journal. It’s been too long!