July 13, 2009

Last night we picked up my dad from Sentry Hill and drove down to York Beach for a walk. It was a spectacular evening. We kicked the soccer ball around and got to enjoy how beautiful the Beach is. There was lots of traffic in the Yorks giving one the impression summer is upon us. The cool temps are uncharacteristic of my memories, however. It was in the mid 60's°F with a strong wind. It seemed more like May or June to me.

July 9, 2009

I took my dad for a mile walk this afternoon. It was absolutely beautiful in the scarceness of our sun as we have had rain, rain, rain. Near our return to Sentry Hill my dad expressed to me how frustrated he was about not being able to go home. He told me he would probably kill himself. I told him that we had to look to god for wisdom. I found some prayers that Theresa had sent him and read them. They weighed heavy on him for a moment and then he quirped, "God isn't proven."

I told him, "To me he is."

He continued that he would rather be dead.

Although he was at a low point he managed to joke with me as we parted and I walked out the door. I said, "Goodbye dad." He said, "Bye." I said, "Bye." He said, "Bye, Bye, Bye." He reopened the door he had just closed and looked at me with a big grin. I laughed and suddenly didn't feel quite as bad.

It's been a few hours since I visited him. After the visit I called my sister and told her how frustrated he was. We have both called him in the last few minutes and the nurse who answered the phone said he was asleep
(7:30pm), she added that they would keep an eye on him tonight.Technorati Tags: Alzheimer's, Sentry Hill, York Harbor, Maine

July 6, 2009

Here is a link sent to me from my cousin Bill ....http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8132122.stm

Yesterday afternoon (Sunday) Sandra, my kids and myself went hiking around Mt Agamenticus before I went and picked up my Dad from Sentry Hill. We walked around the eastern trails and up the old T-bar. The trails are now grown up with alders and birch and some white pines are starting to take hold. It is hard to believe this is a place where I spent so much time skiing when I was a child in the 1970's.

We picked up my Dad and went to Hannafords Grocery Store in York and picked up some necessary groceries to make dinner. He pushed the shopping cart around the store for us. This was a first. He would occassionly bump ever so slightly into people or their carts and apologize to them and ask that they wouldn't sue him.

My father asked me on Friday if I would take him to his house to spend some time. I could only stay for a short visit so had to tell him I couldn't. He also asked if we could take a long walk in the woods. I had to disappoint him again. But I told him perhaps tomorrow I could.

My Dad has spent his life in the woods. Not the deep woods of Northern Maine but as a person who loves to be in the quite tame woods of York, Maine. As a kid I would help him cut firewood and haul it home in his home made tractor. We would toss it into the cellar, stack it and burn it through the winter. As he got older his woodlot turned into a houselot and he divorced my mom.

Being the day after I didn't mention it to him. I just brought him to my house and started cooking dinner. He seemed very content to sit on the deck until the mosquitoes became unbearable. Then we went inside, set the table and served dinner. Three of my kids, my middle sons girlfriend, Sandra, my Dad and I were present. It was nice being all together.

As the kids get older it becomes much more difficult to have so much family present.

Sometime during dinner someone said the 4th of July fireworks had been postponed until the 5th. We decided to go. After dinner we once again had the strange fortune of having my Dad help clear the table. This is so atypical of him. Sandra and I both wonder how this behavior has entered his brain. He has never offered this in all the years we have had him over for dinner.

Also, the other day out of curiosity I asked him if he likes pizza. When I was a kid he detested the thought, look, smell or suggestion of pizza in any way. It is one thing I can be sure he won't eat. To my surprise his reply was, "I don't know, I have never had it." Hmmm, this made me think that he would actually try it.

Wow! Things seem to change with his thought process. It think he may eventually forget he doesn't like certain things.

Fireworks at Short Sands Beach, York, Maine

There was a very large crowd at York Beach for the fireworks. I don't think I have ever seen so many people there before. It was concerning having my dad with us walking along the streets as we had to park a mile away and walk to Short Sands Beach. It was also apparent he could easily get separated from us.

The fireworks lasted over 20 minutes. It was a very generous display. They were launched from a barge about 300 yards off the shoreline. I couln't help being impressed with the large crowd, organization and huge display of fireworks. He said he felt dizzy and Sandra took his arm as we made our way back through the crowds to our car. We took my Dad back to Sentry Hill just before 11 pm.

Sandra helping my dad navigate through the crowds in York Beach

I had a pretty nice weekend. I feel very sad that I cannot spend more time with Dad though. It is hard knowing he is pining so much time away from his home, his possessions and where his heart is. I do take comfort in knowing that he is well taken care of at Sentry Hill.

The previous evening (Saturday) Sandra and I had the good fortune to take her parents out to dinner to celebrate their 51st wedding anniversary. We took them to a restaurant in Hampton, NH called the Galley Hatch. The food was very good. I had seafood linguine. It was a large plate of linguine, scallops, shrimp, all mixed and surrounded by muscles. It had great eye appeal as well as taste. Sandra and I also split a napoleon, as did her parents. Very scrumptious.

We all had a very nice evening. Sandra's mom has a lot of the same wonderful qualities that I see in Sandra. When we are all together I always feel especially lucky as there are two lovely ladies to admire.

Make sure you check out the above link. I think I will get a cup of coffee :)