Sometimes I think this blog should be titled "Life with Father" but not only was that the name of an old TV show (I think)but it would leave out issues with my mom, which can be just as trying.
I've always thought of paranoia as someone always looking over their shoulder, afraid something bad is going to happen at any moment. There are definitely more elements to it. Parkinson's takes it's toll on the brain in ways that one can't really imagine until the next episode presents it's self. We've struggled with Dad's increasing ideas that someone from his military past might make connections to unknown/unmarked objects for some time. He's never told us stories with enough detail for any of us to repeat, even in our social circles or family gatherings. But he's still afraid something will slip out somewhere.
The latest "issue" is with a book that he and Terri thought was interesting called "Say This, Don't Say That". He ordered it. He said as he looked through it, the chapter that he and Terri was interested in was good but the rest of it was pure trash. He said it was very sexual and he didn't even want to send it back. So he ripped it up and put it in a sealed envelope for me to burn. He always gives me things to burn that he doesn't trust to be put in the trash...in case someone might stumble upon it.
The envelope was a bubble wrap mailer and I don't burn plastic in the fireplace so I opened it and took the book out. Since it was not ripped crossways but only from the spine - I put it back together and read through it. It is a very good book!! There is nothing objectionable at all but I can see where he might have gotten that impression if he only skimmed words here and there. It's not a book that you would want a child to pick up and read but a lot of good information is to be had there. It even follows a lot of what he used to teach in a couple's communication class. Oh well, onward and upward...
My mother, on the other hand, is a stitch! She wasn't thrilled with Terri and the kids moving in with them but now that Terri may be going on an extended trip, she's wondering what will they ever do without her. I wonder too. I can go over there every day to check on things but hopefully not to put out any fires!!! Yes, FIRES! A couple of weeks ago Mom wanted to light one of her candles so lit the match, lit the candle, and tossed the match. She has a habit of throwing things toward a trash can or something and if it misses she just lets it be. Well, she didn't think to check the match before she chucked it and the next thing you know, one of the padded kitchen chairs is on FIRE! Yes dear hearts, I'm talking flames. She grabbed one of Dad's jumpsuits and a kitchen towel that was close by to beat out the flames. Both were ruined. Dad has a pad that sits on his chair so she used that to cover up the area. He still hasn't noticed even though there's a little bit of char to the back of the chair. I have some fabric that I've convinced her to let me use to reupholster the chairs. And she wonders why we needed someone to move in there and look after things.
Every day seems to bring something new, or at least a new way of addressing something old. We're in the process of selling a house he bought in 1956. They actually go to settlement on the 28th. Rick has Power of Attorney for both parents so he's been taking care of it. Dad called a couple of days ago worried that he couldn't get in touch with any one and thinking they were all up to no good. As it turns out, Rick had talked to them just the day before and everything is good to go and on schedule. They are taking a huge hit on the value of the house as it's in a questionable neighborhood in a suburb of Baltimore. It became problematic when they could no longer get a dependable renter. Not many want a 16 foot wide, 2 bedroom, 1 bath rowhouse. He held on to it for so long thinking maybe one of the kids or grandkids might need it to live in sometime. It may have sounded like a good idea but.......no. I saw the house maybe 30 years ago and I wouldn't have lived there even then.
On a happy note...they are remodeling the kitchen to put in a dishwasher, update the cabinets, replace the nasty floor and create a more user friendly space. Needless to say Terri is ecstatic! The demo should start in about 6 weeks.
