God Bless You Dad...I Really Needed To Hear That...

Finally got to talk with Dad this morning.  The past four days, I think the nursing home has given me every excuse in the book as to why I could NOT speak to Dad... Today, I was fed up and determined.  I talked to five people before they finally put Dad in an office and gave him the phone...

I told Dad how glad I was to speak with him and told him the trouble I have been having and the excuses I was given...after telling him about the shower excuse..."Oh yes!  I love our group showers.  I enjoy taking showers with all my friends..."  Going to have to check up on that statement...

"I am doing very well.  I feel WONDERFUL and that is how I like it to be."  That is what a positive attitude will do for 'ya!

"When are you coming to see me Donna Dee?"  He asked me every time I call and I always tell him a few weeks...even though it will not be until September...

I shared with Dad about our recent trip to Mammoth Lakes. He loves the mountains and out of doors, so he enjoyed hearing all about it.  He has always been incredibly supportive of my painting.  He tells me I am brilliant, because he always finds hidden objects within my art work, unintended by me. I always marveled at what he could see... He told me I have " a subconscious eye of creativity".

I told him about a picture I took of a branch in a tree off the balcony of the Mammoth house.  When I uploaded it to my computer, it was rotated up and down in portrait position rather than the landscape position I took it in.  To me, it looked like an Owl man warrior, charging through the forest...he has horns, eyes, nose and mouth in his face, and is wearing a chest shield on his chest.  One arm is raised as if to brush aside the tree branches as he rushes through the woods with his powerful legs....    Can you see him?

Owl man

This is the original picture of the branch...

Once again, Dad was not in the mood for a long conversation.  Typically, once he finds outs I am not coming today, he excuses himself and tells me he has to go...

I told him my husband sends his love and Izzy says, "woof!".  Dad laughed, as he always does.  I asked if he remembered when I had to take my German Shepherd, Major, to the shelter because he was so big, keep jumping our six foot fence, and destroyed everything when Dad was attempting to design and plant our  backyard.  Mom told both of us, it was not a good time to have pets...

At the shelter, I sobbed and cried when the shelter men tried to put him in a big cage.  We were outside and it took four men...just as they got him inside, I screamed I wanted Major's collar. Reluctantly, they opened the cage and struggled to get his collar off.

Another man joined them.  He looked at me and walked over to Dad and I where I clung to Dad is hysterics.  True or not, the man told me he owned a ranch and Major was just the kind of dog he was looking for, and asked if it would be OK if he took him home.  God Bless that man.  He made me feel so much better.

Dad felt so bad, he took me back inside the shelter and told me to pick out another, smaller dog this time.  I selected Miley, a calico type terrier mix with a happy smile on her face....

When Dad and I drove up, and I got out with Miley, my Mom's face dropped, but all she did was shake her head...she knew it was hopeless to disapprove...

Dad laughed and told me he remembered... "I get so excited and happy when I see a dog.  I just love animals."  I agreed and told Dad we all got our love of animals from him...

I told Dad maybe I could bring Izzy to meet him... "Oh I would LOVE that!"  I will have to check into that too.  If not, I must remember to bring my laptop next time, so he can see the pictures better...

"I better sign off dear... someone is going to need this room....I am in some one's office..."

I told him I loved him and missed him.  I told him how much I was looking forward to seeing him soon...

"I love you too Firstborn...thank you so much...the best came through you, because you found this place for me.  I am so happy here and they take such good care of me..."

God Bless you Dad...I really needed to hear that today...