Some random thoughts

Since I am such a random kinda guy....It was a different experience this week taking our good ol' Dad to a care facility and actually leaving him there. The first time Celia and I walked outta there Monday afternoon after he fell asleep in his chair, it really choked me up. Course it didnt help me that Celia lost it too. Pop certainly knows where he is, just maybe not all the time. We had more lucid conversations in 3 days than we have had for 3 years. He looks around and you can see him trying to process what is happening. He asks about the girls working there, studies and points at the old ladies in their wheel chairs, stops and looks at the display cabinets outside other rooms, peers into other rooms if the door is open, wants to look out the window at "my mountains". I believe the mental stimulation he gets there, verses sittin on the couch and dozin' all day at home, will brighten up his poor brain more and he may even become a little more lucid. There is a lot going on all the time with all those goofy old folks doin' their thing. Ya can't help but smile at all the stuff happening... Lost teeth, my back hurts, lets sing, lets dance and hop around, randomly shout things,  lets go hug the big guy in the Hawaiin shirt. Crazy!

 Marione suggested I get Pop a Rubics cube, which I did. I mixed it up slightly, then showed him how to work it, explaining to him to try and get the white squares all on one side. He understood and sat there and worked away on that thing for a long time, then said he couldn't do it. Told him don't fret, I can't do it either. He is still very strong physically. While investigating the tool activity station, he was very interested is a small spring loaded wood clamp. He enjoyed squeazing it open with his big gnarley hand and clamping it on the pliars handle. It took Celia both hands to open it. Just one hand for him, no problem. It took him a minute to remember how to use a tape measure. He enjoyed having me extend it out and then him push the thumb thingy to lock it in place, then realease it to snap back in. Made him smile. We need to get him some other things like that to fiddle with, like some tinker toys, or something mechanical. I watched him work over the unplugged control box on an electric blanket for half an hour. He pressed the bottons and turned the knobs while studying it intently, trying to figure it out.

On Tues afternoon, when I told him I was leaving for a while, he said "Wait,,let me ask you something. How do you deal with solving the problems." I asked him what problems, but he lost his train of thought.  I kept questioning him and finally figured out he wanted to know how to solve potential problems in this new enviroment. Typical Chuck.   Explained to him that the nice girls were there to help and take care of him. Just tell them what you need or are concerned about, or need help with and they will help you. Does that make sense? He said " Yes, but it sure is odd"..  Ann told him.. You are are right Dad,, it is odd isn't it.  Yes it is..

I do believe we will see some noticable differences in him, and that was already started to happen by the 2nd day. He can go walk up and down that long hallway all he wants, so his legs and stamina are going to get stronger, verses teetering from room to room at home or just standing there looking out the window at the deep snow that he can't go out and walk in. That extra circulation may help his brain functionality also.  It will be interesting to see if he does make some positive changes in his mind and body. I would suggest to anyone going to visit him, to maintain a positive smiling and laughing attitude around him all the time. He still likes to tease and laugh. He thinks it is funny to pretend like he is a doddering old man, and does that often, making us laugh and telling him to cut that out... Mention about what a great place this home is and how well they take care of him. He knows and understands things more than it may appear,,,it just fades in out out,,,but when it is there, you can tell,,, and so can he.