Is That A Barnacle On Your Ear?

I arrived yesterday around 4pm.  Just in time for Mom to leave for her hair appointment.  I took the opportunity to curl up on the couch and take a nap.  When she returned, we chatted awhile, then went to a local restaurant she enjoys for dinner.

This morning is my niece's birthday.  Mom made every one's breakfast and I frosted the cinnamon rolls. After a couple cups of coffee and some conversation, I received a text from my sister, asking if Mom and I would like to meet her for lunch.  Of course!

Mom and I went to visit Dad and found him in the hallway.  His male CNA had just finished getting him dressed.  We all decided to go onto the patio and visit there.  Dad was in excellent spirits.  I was happy to see he had compression stockings on both feet with the foam booties around his ankles.  I noted he needed to see the podiatrist.  He also needed a shave, his teeth brushed, a shower and some treatment to his on-going eye infection.

Dad's skin is sun damaged from constantly working out of doors.  He gets these horn like growths on various parts of his face.  He had a good sized one on his ear.  I call it a barnacle.  He continually tries to pick it off, and each time it scabs up, it grows back longer and bigger.  The one on his ear was quite pronounced and we had to keep reminding Dad to keep his hands away from it.

Dad told us, it bothered him. (We know it does not hurt him, he is conscious of it offending people.) Mom asked him, "Why? You don't have to look at it"....  Her comment tickled Dad and he roared with laughter...  He really was in such a great mood.

Dad began the conversation by telling us how melancholy he was when he woke up this morning.  I smiled happily when he told us how he talked himself out of it...

While Mom sat with Dad, I found Doctor-Doctor and asked when Dad was due for his shower, shave, and general clean up.  She told me she would take care of it.  By the time I re-joined Mom and Dad at the patio table, the male CNA who helped him earlier, returned to take Dad to get a shave.

One of the nurses popped in to visit and chat and before we knew it, Dad reappeared all freshly shaved and handsome.  While Dad began to flirt with the nurse, I slipped out to make an appointment with the podiatrist for Dad....

When I returned, I could hardly make my way back to the patio.  The Spanish church service was gathering in the dining room.  I could see through the window to the patio, the guitarist was shaking hands with Dad and patting him on the shoulder.  Apparently, he comes every week and stops to chat with Dad.  Dad LOVES the music.

The service started and the music waived from the dining room.  Dad would periodically close his eyes and sway and tap along with the music...

Mom and I took turns sharing the latest family news with Dad.  He nodded and smiled and enjoyed hearing about the family. Dad was not very talkative, but was in such a good mood.

Doctor-Doctor came out to visit Dad and of course, her presence, lit him up like Times Square! He expressed his great love for her, unabashedly in front of all of us.  We are accustomed to it and totally understand his feelings.  He was meowing to her because of the Hello Kitty smock she was wearing.  We all laughed and appreciated his humor.  Doctor-Doctor told us Dad was calling her Mrs. Me-ooooow, and really throwing off the student nurses. When she exaggerated the "meow" in her comment, Dad erupted in hysterics, which brought on more laughter from all of us.  It is so good to see Dad so happy and laughing so hard.

After awhile, his physical therapist came, to take him for his exercises.  The guitarist rushed over and told him good bye and told him he would see Dad the following week.  We told Dad we would see him later (he has his CT SCAN on Monday at 12:30 pm) and kissed him good bye.

As the therapist pulled him through the door backwards, Dad was facing us, and still blowing us kisses.  We both returned the kisses to him and waved until he was out of sight...

When Mom and I were in the car, Mom told me she has not heard Dad laugh as much and as hard as he has this past year, compared to the last several years he was at home.

I drove Mom and I to Joey's BBQ in Pomona, to meet my sister. We had a great lunch, good conversation and enjoyed the food immensely.  My sister returned to work and I drove Mom and I back to Mom's house. Mom took the love seat, and I took the couch, and you guessed it, we both curled up for another nice nap!