When you are younger, and I'm talking 20s and 30s, you don't think of mortality too much. One tends to be busy with all things of life and living. When one is older (like 62ish) as I am you begin to see things totally different.
Dad has often said that he's had a very significant event in which he was told ..."you've spent your life teaching people how to live, now it's time to teach them how to die." He also says that "God gave me life and He'll decide when it's time to take it back." Except for the Parkinson's he's managing well enough and on good days he's very gracious and appreciative of the least little thing anyone does. However, age and circumstance can sometimes make people cranky as they get older and he's no exception. Neither is my mother on the other hand! They fuss at each other like they NEVER did before he got worse and she had her stroke. Case in point..."You've got hearing aids I spent $2,000.00 for and I still have to yell and repeat myself" he said. "Well, I don't have them in!!" she said. We laugh because it's easier than crying and if we didn't find the humor in these day to day things we would all be crazy and in very expensive therapy.
I was busy getting ready to leave for a meeting last night and hurrying to get Rick's dinner ready when the phone rings. It was Dad, letting me know that he got a piece of mail offering him as much as a $450,000 loan @ 3.5% interest. Sounds like junk mail to me I said. Just thought you might find that interesting he said. That was all... Sometimes this happens several times a day and sometimes we can go two or three days without having to explain plain and simple things. I got a call from an attorney about something that happened about 46 years ago. I felt bad explaining to Dad what the issue was (he was a principle person of interest) because he wrote the book on such matters back in the day.
We, my daughter and I, have had to tell my mom that she has to do something about the way they eat. Terri makes dinner and sees that Dad gets his green (plus fruits and vegetables) drink every morning but mom still makes "breakfast" for her and Dad. This meal is usually eaten ANYTIME between 10am and 2pm. It also can consist of anything from a bowl of cereal, bacon, sausage and eggs, OR in the case of last week 3 jelly donuts each!!!
This all makes me think that when they go...I'm next! I try to view things in a positive manner knowing full well that what they are going through now could very well be me in a few years or less. I think about how and what we'll do down the road. Living with one of my children is an easy thought but would they want us. We live in a place that they would find hard to manage and not convenient to anything so having one of them move in with us isn't an option. I still think a tiny house on my son's Virginia Beach property is the way to go! Since we can't afford where I'd REALLY like to go.....
