Well friends... been an interesting week leading into the holidays, though really, I've stopped building custom straps, got my shopping done the other day, picked up my boy who bused in from Edmonton to a nearby city. He's suddenly working on a hipster man bun! LOL! kids these days.
All through this, trips to assist my parents, to pharmacy, get them the mail, banking, the groceries, all that. Yesterday I delivered a brand new walker for my pop who seems to be losing his balance, suddenly quite unsteady on his feet. Fact is, the past ten days he's not getting on so well. after his last stint in the hospital. Mom says he's hardly eating, no appetite. Pain in his abdomen (doctor suspects pancreatic cancer, but no firm diagnosis yet). He's on serious pain meds right now, an MRI is booked for the new year. If he's diagnosed with cancer, it's likely he wouldn't survive any treatment for it. So kind of a grim situation for anyone to be in. But, as of yesterday, a brand new walker. He ordered me to "Get the top of the line one." Sheesh! For what they are, pretty dang expensive! But, that's what he got, at least I got a seniors discount without asking, as I knew the pharmacist from my advertising days, and she gave me a little "tip" to come back yesterday, after I had it put aside Monday.
Another doctor trip today to ferry both parents to appointments this afternoon. I have a foreboding feeling I'll be driving my pop to a hospital further on, to another facility... uh, how do I say this... Perhaps he's not coming back. I don't want to be negative, hat's just how it feels. He looks really hollowed out, that look the elderly get when it's nearing their time.
I asked him what he wanted for Christmas last week. He said a daily organizer diary. Just like I used to use when I was in the ad sales business. He has taken to a habit of using his daytimer to catalog how his stocks are doing, manage the virtual pharmacy of pills he's taking, reminder notes of doctor appointments, palliative care visits from the local traveling nurse. So, very useful to him, commendable he's doing all this too.
Funny, he was never organized like this before, but the past couple of years it seems to have become be sort of an obsession for him. Also, he's reading the good book fervently. Been through it three times he says, in the past four years. Like he's preparing.
Anyway I went to an office supply joint the other day in the city, picked up his new daytimer. But I wanted his gift to be a little more special. So I decided I'd try my first "bookbinding" effort. Not superb, but for a first try ok.
This is a Greek Orthodox cross. He's of Romanian descent, still rather keen to the culture he grew up with. He'll appreciate this.
And because I feel pressed for time, I recycled a recent idea, adding a monogram to personalize it. It was a bit rushed, but I'm glad I completed it. I'll be taking it with me today, if I have to take him further on to
the hospital. Possibly an early Christmas gift.
Was going to put 2026 on it too, then decided not in hopes he gets to use this sleeve for another year ahead perhaps. He'll be able to slip his next yearly planner into it. But honestly right now, I hope at this point he gets to fill many pages in this one.
This is something we all must go through, I'm no different than anyone else. Sorry to bring this circle of life stuff up, be a downer this time of year, but that's just what's on my mind these days. Not looking for sympathy, but maybe only
a little dad mojo. I've always treated this thread as sort of my diary too. Probably just needed to get some load off my chest.
++++ EDIT+++++++++
OH damn. Just before I hit the "post reply" button here my cell rang. I will only be taking my mom for her electrocardiogram in about an hour. She says dad is now once again in an ambulance on the way to hospital and hour and a half away. His third trip inside 4 weeks now. I hope this doesn't affect her test, but how can it not?
So, it's big weird alright. But... after all this rambling, I 100% wish everyone, all my brothers and sisters here on TTR a very Merry Christmas.
I'm going to hold a little tighter to every single smile I can grab onto this year, something I needed to be reminded, we all should try to do everyday.
