Another Birthday Shenanigan

My dad's birthday was Tuesday.  Jerry and I and my brother went to visit him in the nursing home and tell him happy birthday.  I walked in and said "Happy 97th birthday!".  He said "I'm 98" and I said "no dad, you were born in 1928 so you're 97".  He was very adamant about being 98.  So I decided when you're 90 anything, you can have what you want (and you don't argue with my dad because you won't win!) He's 98 this year and next.  (smile)

We were sitting in the lobby talking to him and he said something we couldn't understand. The he turned and wheeled off in his wheelchair with us sitting there.  We all three just looked at each with shocked looks on our faces. "Did he just leave?"  my brother asked.  "He's never done that before".  "I'm not sure where he went"  I said.  "Should we leave or sit here?"  We got a little tickled about it.  Maybe he needed a nap.  Maybe he just decided he was done.  Maybe he thought we said bye.  Maybe he had a hot date (LOL).  Maybe some more of his shenanigans!  We waited.  I got up to check on him and saw him wheeling back down the hall toward us.  When he reached us, he handed me a card.  Just a simple card that said Happy Birthday on it.  But inside were the birthday greetings from all of the members of the staff.  Sweet messages from the people in his life that he sees every day.   Those are his people, his life, his community.  I'm not even sure he could read the messages or knew exactly who the people were but I could tell it meant a lot to him.  Those are the people that care for him, hug his neck, make sure he doesn't need anything, give him attention, make him feel valued and important......at 98!

Isn't that what we all need?  To be loved, to feel important, to have a community, no matter what that looks like or how many people that is.  It is hard to leave a parent in a nursing home.  You know you can't take care of them and they can't take care of themselves.  You have to come to terms with it.  I have to trust God and ask Him to take care of dad and meet his needs, whatever they are, physical, social, emotional.  I feel like that was God answering my prayers and telling me "I've got him."  

It was a good birthday.  Not a big party or lots of gifts.  Just a piece of coconut cream pie from Charlies, a dinosaur balloon, a kiss on the cheek from his girlfriend (grin-sweet lady named Louise that sits by him and sometimes they hold hands) and a birthday card full of sweet messages.  I don't think they have any idea what that meant to my dad.  But I know it meant the world to me!

Thank you Lord for watching over him and giving us peace.  You are good, all the time.

Love Him.    Love you dearly,

Diana



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