Cynicism Aside

I just returned from a "Help!" call from my Dad after just posting my little Father's Day piece.  Dad had "fallen and couldn't get up" and he called for company.  I should have gone for an engineering degree, but alas I only have a sometimes good daughter degree instead. 

My Dad has always been a small built man, not weighing much at all.  Several years ago he had a stroke that paralyzed his right side and left his leg and arm pretty much useless.  Being sedentary not only effected his weight, but also his psyche.  Never a man to sit still, dad now has no choice. He rests in his chair and watches the boob tube and lives in his memories.  He is now a large man and I cannot lift him.

On a real good day he can manage to get on his hover round and trek off to the garden or down the drive to the front yard where he tries to "weed eat" around the front fence.  More times than none he ends up on his bottom and has to call for help.  These times the family has learned to accept and someone is always available to get him up and back to the house.  There is no restricting my Dad and so we repeat the process so he can experience what little happiness he can get "piddling" outside.

Twice in the last month I have been called to get him up from in the house. As he will not go to the doctor we can only assume he is having some mini strokes and passing out.  Usually one of the "men folk" are close by or can turn loose and come get him up.  It is all taken in good humor and mostly he laughs it off.  I had the opportunity to spend a couple of hours with him this afternoon while he rested on the floor and we had a nice visit until someone could make it to assist.  (Friday afternoon is Mom's afternoon at the beauty shop and to visit with her friends.)

He so wanted to be back in his chair before she got home and he made it by just a few minutes.  I don't take the time to visit as I should and I know I will be sorry one day.  Not all of our conversations are pleasant, but today was a real delight and I enjoyed my visit with Dad.  Maybe I will get back over a spend more time with him, but then again most visits are not as pleasant. Spontaneity is the secret and that is never planned - it just happens.  So, Happy Father's Day Dad!

Until next time  . . .

Happy reading!
Belle

Another Father's Day

I know the title sounds rather cynical which I guess I must have intended as it just seemed to type itself.  I don't mean any disrespect to any Father out there in the netherworld.  It seems to me that we are always celebrating some special day on a continuous basis.  I recently received an email that attributed all the special occasions to the "greeting card" companies to boost lagging sales.  Secretaries Day, Administrative Assistants Day, Armed Forces Day, Civic Holiday, all have a need to be celebrated and acknowledged.

I want to ask - who needs a special day to honor their father. or their mother, or their grandparents?  My grandparents are dead, but I certainly didn't need a special day to let them know I loved and treasured them.  My parents are still alive and though not in good health are able to get around a bit.  I talk to them every week, but only see them once in a while.  My relationship with my children is much like mine with my parents.  We all have life to live and goodness, don't you think your parents know how you feel about them and whether or not they were good parents?

Anyway, a good father is hard to find and I do appreciate the fact that my father was a hardworking, church going man.  I admire the fathers of my grandchildren and thank God for providing good stable men to raise these little ones. 

This is a big Thank You to all the Dad's who are struggling to make a good home and provide for the little ones.  May your day be blessed with smiles and much love!

Father's Day

This Sunday is celebrated as Father's Day around the globe. I am blessed that my father is still alive. Many fathers have already passed away and still other's have never known their father.

I can't tell you what makes a good father. I can tell you that I love my father, but I don't always like him.

I always had food to eat and clean clothes to wear. I was taken with my father to church every Sunday and when I was grown he scoured the neighborhood and found other children that he could take to church (their fathers didn't take them). My father took us to the beach every summer. I always felt safe and secure when I laid down to sleep at night - I felt protected.

My Dad taught me to care for animals, plant a garden, the fragrance of a beautiful rose, the beauty of a dahlia, how to milk a cow, to barbecue a pig, the love of camellias, to appreciate the softness of moss under a big oak tree, the natural fun of a creek, to learn the history of our surroundings, to change a tire and check the oil in a car, to savor the flavor of the first peach of the season, the wonderful sensation of freshly turned dirt between bare toes, to acknowledge the past but no to dwell on it, the sweetness of a watermelon, how to drive a tractor, that the written word is longer lasting than a quick phone call, to appreciate what is given to you, how important time is, to take advantage of opportunities - they may not come again, not to judge what we don't understand, to read my Bible, you can't have enough friends, and so much more.

Yes, I love my Dad and wish for him to have a day of anything his heart desires. My father is afraid of losing his ability to make decisions for himself. But refusing to take his medicine, get his rest, do his therapy, and acts in an irresponsible manner is not a sign of independence but a sure sign of bad judgement. Get it right Dad, I would like to have you here next year for Father's Day also.

Happy Father's Day to all you men out there who have given in a positive and uplifting way of you time, energy and love to someone.