Evening Pill Routine

(A sample of pretty much every evening.)

Since dad's Sinemet pill times are 8am, 12pm, 4pm and 8pm... I call him at 8am for those pills, then the nurses are there over the 12pm and 4pm pill times, then I call at 8pm for that pill and to say good night. The nurses bring the 8pm pill down, and place it beside the clock radio in the kitchen, next to the sink. I tuck the 8am pills in the corner of the bottom shelf of the overhead cupboard, so that when I call him in the am, he'll take those pills. One would think that the pills in their places would register in his mind as a routine. One would think.

The past few nights have gone something like this:

8pm ring ring

"Hello?"
"Hi dad, it's time for your 8pm pill."
"Is it?"
"Yes. Where are you?"
"I'm in bed. I guess I'll have to go get it then."
Sounds of him walking to the kitchen for the pill.
"Dad... the pill is in the purple container next to the clock radio, do you see it?"
"I don't see it."
"Purple container, glass dish, next to clock radio?"
"Oh..."
Sounds of the phone being set down. THEN... sounds of a glass bowl being dragged across a cabinet. The 8 AM pills!!
"DAD!"
No answer
"DAAAD!"
Still no answer.
"DAAAAAAD DAAAAAAAAAAAAAD DAAAAAAAAAAAAAAD!!!" I'm screaming into the phone so he'll pick up.
"What?"
"Which pills do you have?"
"It's a white container with two pills in it."
"Did you take it from the cabinet?"
"Yes."
"Those are your pills for tomorrow. Were you not listening to me? The purple container on the counter is the pill for now.. the one that says 8 pm? The one you take every night?"
"Oh." Silence.
"Please put those pills away. Those are your pills for tomorrow morning. Please take the pill on the counter."
Silence.
I'm panicking again! "What are you doing dad?"
"Putting the 8am pills away."
Sound of water running.
"Do you have the pill in the purple container?"
More silence, then, "Well, that's down the hatch. I guess that's it then."
"I guess. Ok. Good night, have a good sleep."
"Same to you." Click.

8.11pm - phone call ends.