Pleased With Himself

When I arrived at the home to see dad today, he was sound asleep!  I was filled in by the care aides that he had been up all morning; walking and participating in activities.  He had been sitting next to one of the aides during the crossword activity, and it was relayed back to me, "Your dad, he is an intelligent man."  Oh yes, that's my dad!  I waited for dad to wake up, and it wasn't until I started to write him a note, and turned around to check on him that he woke up.  He was looking at me with one eye open.  "Hi."  Hi.  We got him up then, and he was keen to walk!  His walker was wheeled around in front of him, and if we didn't walk down to the end of the hall and back to the activities room!  With Parkinson's, he has problems with scissor steps... crossing his feet over one another.  However... I cannot believe the determination, considering it is coming up to a year ago that he had that final fall that took him off his feet for good.  I looked over at him while he was walking, and he had a little grin on his face.  Aw! 

I had visited in the morning last week, as there was a food meeting that I wanted to sit in on.  Dad was sitting out in the garden with some of the other residents, some papers were on hand but I'm not sure dad was reading them!  Anyway, they commented to me that he likes to sit in the sun.  Oh yes, that's one of the reasons why we moved here!  I was reminded of funny stories of mom and dad... they liked to go to White Rock beach and sit in the car in the sunshine... usually it was too breezy and windy on the beach to really enjoy it!  Last summer when I took dad down there for fish and chips on Canada Day; we got back to the car and it was nice and toasty in the black Honda.  Dad said to me, "Oooo... can we just sit here for a few minutes?"  Um.  Sure.  Uh oh... you know you're old when!

Seeing dad sitting in the sun, enjoying the heat on his back reminds me that we do need to stop and enjoy the simple things in life.  There is much to take pleasure in, and maybe it's only when we slow down and stop that we can appreciate the small things.

All is well in Rose Bay for the time being... thanks for reading!  Donna