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May. 13th, 2006 11:00 pmIt is over 420 miles to my dad's living space, and farther to the skilled nursing facility. That was seven hours. The magic of cell phones meant that I could advise my brother about where to go and where to sleep even though I was still halfway across the state. I also asked him to find out Dad's current med schedule, for I knew that would be essential in order to know when to try talking.
As I approached my stomping grounds I encountered a stretch limo cruising leisurely along the freeway. I recalled that it was prom night, not only for my own high school, but probably for a lot of others as well.
I arrived in the evening, after visiting hours were over. My uncle, aunt, and brother were discussing what they had seen as they visited and helped with dinner. I greeted my aunt saying that it was good to meet her. She reminded me that we had met at my dad's wedding. Ah, yes. Although all the others were from the east we stayed up a while discussing what we knew and what we planned to do.
My uncle is nine years younger than my dad. Their dad died when my uncle was about six, so my dad was big brother and mentor. Before dinner they had taken my dad for a wheelchair ride around the facility. My uncle had been pushing, promising not to run my dad's legs into the walls, and breaking that promise. My uncle was also teasing my dad mercilessly, and my dad had roared with laughter.
My brother wondered whether he would end up doing the same thing for me. I said I was going to take up skydiving.
The subject changed to nursing care. My uncle spoke of Foley catheters and how much he and any other patient who had ever had one wanted to find Foley and exact revenge. I sat there silent as I remembered how many times I had inserted them, removed them, and cared for patients with them.
Then we all slept. I had brought my sleeping bag, and I took the couch.
As I approached my stomping grounds I encountered a stretch limo cruising leisurely along the freeway. I recalled that it was prom night, not only for my own high school, but probably for a lot of others as well.
I arrived in the evening, after visiting hours were over. My uncle, aunt, and brother were discussing what they had seen as they visited and helped with dinner. I greeted my aunt saying that it was good to meet her. She reminded me that we had met at my dad's wedding. Ah, yes. Although all the others were from the east we stayed up a while discussing what we knew and what we planned to do.
My uncle is nine years younger than my dad. Their dad died when my uncle was about six, so my dad was big brother and mentor. Before dinner they had taken my dad for a wheelchair ride around the facility. My uncle had been pushing, promising not to run my dad's legs into the walls, and breaking that promise. My uncle was also teasing my dad mercilessly, and my dad had roared with laughter.
My brother wondered whether he would end up doing the same thing for me. I said I was going to take up skydiving.
The subject changed to nursing care. My uncle spoke of Foley catheters and how much he and any other patient who had ever had one wanted to find Foley and exact revenge. I sat there silent as I remembered how many times I had inserted them, removed them, and cared for patients with them.
Then we all slept. I had brought my sleeping bag, and I took the couch.
