Friday, September 17, 2010

Van picked up Dad this afternoon. I had a hair appointment and got home about 6:15. I sat with Dad and watched the news. I fixed the last of the leftovers for his dinner. I had to wake him up to eat. I walked him to the bathroom and had him try to pee and wash his hands. If I ask him if he needs to pee, he usually says no, but if I have him get in front of the toilet and try, he goes about half the time. After he ate I said, "We're going to drive down to the pond." He said, "Am I going?" I got him up and we walked out to the car. When we got to the pond, Van was working in the creek, trying to fix the water that comes in to the pond. Dad and I sat in the love seat under the umbrella. As we were talking, I decided to write our conversation as Dad was really alert this afternoon. This is how it went:

Dad: You got a big swimming hole here.

Me: Yep, it's really nice.

Dad: It sure is a blue sky day. What day is it?

Me: Friday, September 17th What was yesterday?

Dad: September 16th.

Me: What day is that?

Dad: I don't know

Me: It was your birthday! How old are you?

Dad: Thirteen HaHaHa! How old am I?

Me: You're 88.

Dad: Oh Lord, I ain't here much longer am I?

Me: You'll probably live forever!

Dad: Yonder's the moon. Is it a blue sky day?

Me: It's a little overcast.

Dad: There's the ole moon up yonder.

Me: Who was your mother?

Dad: Odessa

Me: What was mom's name?

Dad: I don't remember.

Me: Ann Buchanan Lane

Dad: kept repeating Ann Buchanan Lane... Ann Buchanan Lane...

Me: What did you call her?

Dad: I don't remember.

Me: When you were mad you called her Buchanan, but mostly you called her Annie B

(He laughed heartily, deep from his gut)

Dad: Is it a cloudy day?

Me: It's just overcast.

Dad: Yonder's the sun shining through the trees. Where are we?

Me: We're at the pond.

Dad: Where's that?

Me: At mine and Van's house.

Dad: Where's the house?

Me: At the top of the hill.

Dad: twenty-five minutes till eight There's the ole moon shining up through there. What's the date?

Me: September 17th

Dad: September 16th was my birthday.

Me: Yeah, you remember the party at LifeCare and at Scoggins last night... Phillip was there.....

Dad: Oh yeah, yeah.... (and he patted my knee) There's the moon up yonder. It's a beautiful blue sky day......

Susie