Hangin’ with H in the daytime

Unlike 5:06am, it is now daylight and noisy. It is noisy because Dad and I are watching the VCR (yes the kind with magnetic tape in it) of the the Crowell High School 50th reunion. Those who know Dad know he sees Crowell, Texas as the center of the galaxy.

This 50th reunion took place in 1992 (21 years ago). Dad filmed it, moderated some of it, and MC’d at the dinner. We have the volume high. Nevertheless, Dad is napping through most of it. However, when a lady was calling role of the 35 or so attendees in the film, Dad woke up when his name was called.

The same lady goes on to list things that were invented after they graduated in 1942: TV, electric blankets, penicillin, plastics, frisbees, the pill, ballpoint pens, air conditioners, pantyhose, frozen food, FM radio, electric typewriters, ….and this list goes on. She explains that gone are the days when the phrase “made in Japan” meant junk.

Pardon me a moment. Dad fell asleep with a cup of orange juice in his hand and it spilled on him……….OK, I am back, all cleaned up and the reunion video goes on. No place I would rather be than right here.

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Hangin’ with H in the quiet

It is 5:06am and dark here in Texas. I am only in for the weekend to see Dad (whose middle initial is H) and his wife, Vonnie. H lies on a hospital bed in the living room. Vonnie is in her normal bed. From the upstairs bed where I have been sleeping I hear him talk at times in the night. I came downstairs to see if he needs something or if he is dreaming. When I came near him he said, “Is that you?” to which I replied, “I don’t know, let me check.” This is typical non-sensical humor which has characterized our conversations most of my adult life…but H doesn’t get the humor anymore. It is a fight just to send and receive a simple message. So I say, “Yes, it’s me” and touch the side of his face and neck with my right hand. I touch the top of his chest. I ask, “Would you like some water?” to which he replies, “No”. I pat him lightly on the chest.

He asks, “do you want to sleep in this bed?” meaning the narrow hospital bed he is in. I probably outweigh him by 80 lb or more these days. The question seems funny to me and I picture the two of us in that bed….but I think he is concerned that I don’t have a comfortable place to sleep. Such is the sweetness of my Dad…I reply, “I will just sit in the chair next to you”. It is good to be in the quiet with my dad.

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