Sunday, March 10

Went up north today.  Fred brought in the table and tv, and we put some more stuff on the walls in dad's room.  The maintenance people will hook up the cable tomorrow.   When we got there, dad was in the big room, sleeping/watching tv with a bunch of the oldsters.   Mom and Chad sat down with him, and Fred and I went to get some stuff done in the room.   Dad eventually came back to his room and seemed to like the stuff on his walls - cars and fish.   I also put up a corkboard with some family pictures.  (See info below on this).   After Fred and Chad left, mom and I took dad down to dinner and then we took off.   He has been really out of it and sleepy yesterday and today.  Yesterday morning, they couldn't get him up so he didn't eat breakfast.   He seems to be settling in well, and hasn't slugged anyone for almost a week.   They are so good to him- take him by the hand to help him, and he lets them.   I spent some time with mom working on a puzzle.  She is doing OK, getting used to the emptiness.    I do have to say, when we left dad, we both were a little teary.  It's tough.   But, he is safe and they good to him, and the fact that he seems to be settling in helps.   I popped in to see him on my way home and took him a cookie.   He was asleep on one of the couches in the big room, but woke up when I sat down by him.   Ate the cookie, said it was good.   I asked him if he was ready to go back to sleep, and he said yes.   Kissed his head, told him I would be back, and said good-bye.  He was back out again.   He does look like he has put on a few pounds - his face doesn't look so gaunt.   When we were there earlier, Skipper was running around in her depends, no pants.   When I stopped in again, she was rearranging all the flower pots.  Pretty funny.   All in all, things seem to be calming down.  It sure is weird being at the house and not having dad there.   Then, to say "I'm going to dad's place", is even more weird.   Life throws us all kinds of things, and we now have a new normal.  P.S. - Will the following people please email me a photo of them, and families, if applicable:  Ann, Kellie, Landon Erica, Anali, need pix of Tarl/Sabrina/Ryan/Emily/Seth.  Email address:  jabugrizz@aol.com.  I stalked facebook and pulled the others, in case you are wondering why your name isn't here.  Couldn't get very good ones from facebook.

Mom and Dad in Dad's Man Cave