My Father

Dad has moderate dementia, and this might be the last time I will see him where he remebers my name. Yet, special moments bless our time together in spite of 'helicopter sisters'. As I walked with Dad, he said,

“Years ago there were things I wished I could forget – now I have – not too bad.”

As I played a dice game with Dad, he chuckled after complaining that he couldn’t remember the rules,

“At least no one can claim I am cheating!”

After I told Dad a story, he shared,

“I know that once when I heard a good story I could think of another right back – now I think of several, but never have the time to figure out which one is right.”

After I read him a poem I wrote from a couple of years ago, he quipped,

“I’m not sorry I can’t remember that one, ‘cause now I get to hear it again.”

While chatting with the museum curator, he noted,

“I can’t remember just where I found that, but I sure remember the excitement I felt – and thinking how stupid people were not to know what it was.”

After talking to Em on the phone, he whispered,

“I was going to hang up but guess she might want to talk with some more – that I remember.”

As he was settling into bed, he mused,

“It’s been so long since we were together I’m not sure how much I can tease you.”

…………………………………………….

These things, Dad – I will remember