August 15, 2011

Yesterday I returned from a weekend trip from Westmore, VT. A friend owns a camp on a ridge over looking a glacial lake. The name of the lake is Willoughby. It is long and deep. My friend told me it is over 300 feet deep in parts. I drove up to Vermont alone, through the White Mountain National Forest. I past many places I used to go camping with my family when I was a kid.

The ride through Franconia Notch was especially beautiful. The majesty of the Presidential Range is inspiring. I really wanted to get out of the car and hike up with sketch pad in hand.

On friday (I am writing on Monday) I visited my Dad. As I entered Sentry Hill and found him, he looked at me for a moment and then connected. It is very satisfying for him to get a certain look on his face that signifies he recognizes me. He was sitting alone, in  a large room. It was quite hot, 90°s F, but I asked him to go for a walk. He readily agreed. We walked out of the facility and straight into the  sun down to Woodbridge Road. We took a left onto Axholme. He recognized where we were by pointing at the trafic at the intersection of Route 1A and trying to speek. He couldn't verbally expound what his thoughts were so I asked, "do you mean if you take a right turn up there you will come to York Village?"

He shook his head, indicating this is what he meant. We both walked forward on the dark pavement, both feeling hotter. I asked if the sun bothered him as a car went slowly past us. He said he didn't think so. We paused at a vegetable patch along the roads edge and he pointed out some cucumbers. We both share a zest for cucumbers and this became apparent to the gardens owner who was sitting on a deck within hearing distance as we saw more cukes and appropiately ooooed and yummmed.

Me and my Dad

Suddenly, my Dad told me he was very hot. I didn't know he would want to take such a long walk and didn't bring any water. He had two shirts on so I helped him take the outer one off. He had a lei around his neck. He didn't know it was on there. I asked why it was there and he had no idea. As we proceeded down Axholme Drive I told him I recently had a birthday and asked him to guess how old I was. He looked at me with sad eyes and told me he didn't have any.... but couldn't finish the sentence. I knew he meant to say money because he always gave me a one hundred dollar bill for my birthday as well as my wife and our 3 children. This day he couldn't even say it. I said,"money!" He smiled and say I don't .....and I said, "have any." He shook his head. I asked for him to try to guess how old I was again. He shook his head as if he was defeated. I said, "20?" He laughed. I said, "30?" He smiled as we walked past Foster's Downeast Clambake and turned the corner onto Route One A.

I then confessed that I was 51. I asked if he remembered being 51. He looked surprised and said no. I asked how old he was and there was some debate. My concern for his safety took precedent walking along a sidewalk with traffic moving hasty. As we neared our turn into Sentry Hill an lady offered us a cold drink from her porch. I declined and we walked up the hill to Victoria Court. A lady from far away called my name. I didn't recognize her immediately. My dad was 20 feet behind me and I was concerned about getting him up the hill. He was walking very slowly.

I showed my Dad the home in which my in laws would soon be moving into. We then turned and walked toward the main doors and I recognized the lady whom called my name. It was Judy, a nurse and she was with Marilyn, a woman who is particularly fond of my Dad. We sat in big overstuffed chairs next to them. We joked with each other and exchange pleasantries. My Dad didn't look at either of them and when I asked if he could see them he said not really. They laughed at this. I asked him if he even knew Marilyn. He replied, "just a little, not very much."

Again they were amused. We all got up, went inside and got something to drink and somehow as a group navigated our way back to Browning, the locked in area, where one needs to remember the code and to punch it in to ingress or egress.

I had a great visit with my Dad. He was alert, happy and really enjoyed taking a walk, I think it was about a mile.