Robert Frost
I mentioned that, in some ways, Jenna has taken on the occasional role as the parent and leads me in different ways when needed. I find my sisters and brothers and I are doing the same thing in regards to our father.
Dad was driving his truck home last evening and slipped into the ditch again. He thinks he may have gotten a flat tire and it pulled him over and in. Fortunately, he was not hurt and a nice man from Alburnett drove him all the way home. This has not been a good winter for Dad and the misfortunes he is experiencing seem to be escalating, so we are all keeping a closer eye on him for his own safety. Lon and I went out to the farm last night so I could talk to him while Lon plowed out his driveway.
In talking to him, I see how very unhappy he is and I wish there was a way we could help him be happier, but that is just not going to happen. Since Mother passed, he has been so incredibly sad and lonely, and he can't seem to figure out what to do with himself to find a little joy and contentment.
Dad was always a little distant when we kids were growing up. He did all the providing and Mom did the majority of the hands-on raising. Fathers of little kids today seem to be totally involved in every aspect of their kids lives, from knowing all of their friends' names to taking them bowling or swimming or to the movies. Ours was a whole different generation. I can only remember touching my father about three times in my life.
Once was when I was about five years old and we were attending a wedding in Cedar Rapids. I was wearing a blue dress and he had on his fedora hat and long dress trenchcoat. We had to cross the street to get to the church and he took my hand. I was hoping everyone was watching and seeing my dad help me to cross the street. Then, there was the day of my wedding when he took my arm to escort me down the aisle. He had worked the night before and he didn't come to the wedding rehearsal, so we had not gotten to practice that part. The third time was the day Mother died. Sister Sandy had spent the night with her when it became very late in the evening, and the rest of us had all had gone home to get some rest, not knowing that she would pass the next day. When Sister Judy and I returned the next morning, Sister Karen took Sandy home, and unfortunately, shortly after that, Mother quietly passed away. Dad had been exhausted and so we did not call him right away and therefore let him sleep late. We had all gathered at the nursing home and waited. When Dad made it back, I remember walking up to him and taking his hand while we told him the bad news.
Like I said, this is a whole different ballgame today with fathers and daughters. Nina's little granddaughter and her son-in-law were going to a Father-Daughter Dance. When Addison became anxious to get going, she asked her dad (who was still getting ready) "Are you handsome enough YET?!" So funny!
Hopefully, tomorrow I will find out when the surgery can be performed. I am thinking - maybe a week away. That would be nice to get that over with.
NOTE Thanks for all of you reading our blog. We don't have a counter on it, but by adding up the figures we have had almost 4,000 hits! Amazing.
GOD BLESS YOU ALL