The most beautiful girl in the world...

Yesterday, 65 years ago, Mom and Dad met on a street in Seattle, Washington while Dad was on leave, with two of his Marine buddies.  Mom worked as a Fashion Illustrator and her boss had just opened his own Art Gallery.  Mom and her girlfriend, who attended Art School with her, had acted as Hostesses for the grand opening.  Mom and her girlfriend had finished hostessing and were on their way to the bus stop when they past the three Marines.

The Marines followed them and they all stood talking at the bus stop.  Dad would later tell us the story, over and over, through the years, and he described it as meeting the most beautiful girl in the world.  He asked for her phone number and he had nothing to write with, so he memorized her phone number.  The last time he told us the story was this past June, while celebrating Father's Day in the Psych Ward...  Dad repeatedly her phone number, as he has done thousands of times before...Grant 4404.

Mom went to visit yesterday and took Dad flowers. Unfortunately, she did not remind him of the date, because she didn't think he would remember.  I wished she had so he could have had that happy memory.  Every time he told the story, he would smile and have a twinkle in his eyes...

Dad enjoyed smelling the flowers and smiled.  Mom said he seemed tired and talked steady and softly.  Mom had brought some pictures of his only remaining sister and her children, but Dad could not see it without his glasses.  Mom had him try some magnifying glasses which did not help, yet, he held onto the photo anyway and smiled and as Mom described everyone in the photo.

Dad asked about his nephews and his sons.  Mom told him they were in school and his sons were busy working.  Mom thought his face looked thinner and he seemed very tired.  He voice seemed to fade away to almost a whisper as he drifted off to sleep and dream.

Mom spoke with Dad's favorite Aide and she shared with Mom how she had shaved and bathed him that morning.  He had been very happy. She calls him Papa and is so sweet and gentle with him. He had only eaten ice cream and his supplement drink for lunch.  When Mom dropped off a bag of lemons from one of Dad's trees, the nurse told Mom he had lost 4-5 pounds and if he continues to lose, they will put him back on the appetite enhancers.

I called the Social Worker at the nursing home today and asked about Dad's missing glasses (third pair gone missing).  She told me they had ordered more.  Still no approval on his hearing aid, and the Dentist only recommended a cleaning for Dad.  For over a year, Dad has had a hole in one of his teeth on his left side from the loss of a filling.  I called the dental company, and the Dentist is suppose to return my call on Monday.  No doubt they will wait until Dad is in agonizing pain, then they will want to pull his tooth....

I asked about his weight, and she told me Dad is steadily putting on weight and that on the 5th of January, Dad weighed 147 lbs!  Some wires are crossed some where...so I will stay on top of it and continue to be Dad's Advocate...