My Dad

I spent the evening with my dad last night.  I brought a pizza and we enjoyed dinner together and watched the OSU men’s basketball team ALMOST beat UCLA!

Generally speaking my dad is a pretty easy person to be around.  He’s normally in a good mood, he’s a happy guy.  But, sadly, I sometimes feel like I’m watching him slip away.  He’s gone to that place where he can remember every detail about something that happened when he was 10 years old … but can’t remember (sometimes) what happened yesterday.  Sometimes I have my dad there, and am enjoying a lively conversation with him … but other times he’s telling the same stories over, and over, and over again.

His body is failing him too.  He mostly walks now with a walker.  His shoulders cause him so much pain that there are many things he can no longer do.  He told me last night that he cancelled his subscription to the Albany Democrat-Herald because his shoulders/arms will no longer allow him to raise the paper, to turn the pages, so he can read it.

Since my mom died, in August, my dad has had a rough time.  It’s really affected him physically.  It’s hard to watch it all.  But it’s making the time I spend with him even more precious.  The good news is that the last couple of weeks he’s been doing much better.  Hopefully he’s making at least a small turn around with his health.  I’ve appreciated all the prayers that have been said on his behalf … they’re helping … but don’t stop!