This blog was formerly dedicated in 2009 to my Dad who died of Alzheimer's in 2013. It's been three years now...and I find myself missing blogging...so I am re-inventing my blog... because, after all, life is about moving through, and going forward...

Monday, December 13, 2010

John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara...

For fifteen years my Dad was a volunteer chaplain in Glendora, CA.  He worked with a female chaplain who started a tape ministry of bible verses and stories. This February, she will have been ordained sixty years. Dad and she would distribute the tapes when visiting patients in the hospitals and nursing homes.  Mom picked up the Reverend and brought her to visit Dad.

The Reverend also makes little miniature houses out of used Christmas cards and fills it with home made cookies.  She made one for Dad.  She also gave him a red cap, which he placed on his head and left it there the remainder of their visit out on the patio.

Mom basically sat and listened, making comments here and there.  Dad talked with the Reverend non stop.  He told her John Wayne was waiting to welcome him, "up  there"in heaven.  Then Dad broke into a long story about "the Duke" and Maureen O'Hara in one of his favorite movies, THE QUIET MAN.






They had lots to discuss with her frequent references to various verses from the bible, and recalling patients and events when they worked together.

She was very impressed with the nursing home, the staff and how content Dad is.  While the Reverend and Dad chatted, Mom had a bag of Pomegranates off her home tree and gave them to the nurses.  Mom keeps them well supplied with lemons also. Mom had washed one of Dad's sweatshirts so she hung it in his closet.  She put some of his cookies in his night stand...

When Mom returned to the patio, she brought Doctor-Doctor and "Pickles", two of Dad's favorite nurses and introduced them to the Reverend. The nurses both raved about Dad as a patient.  The Reverend said Dad was such a nice man, of course he would be a nice patient.

They stayed until Dad was served his lunch, then they left and Mom drove the Reverend home.  Mom is looking forward to watching GUESS WHO'S COMING TO DINNER on the Ted Turner channel.  She used to watch the old classic movies with my oldest brother, who lives in Ohio.

Thank you Mom for bring the Reverend to visit Dad, I know he enjoyed the visit.

5 comments:

betty said...

I think it was good for the Reverend to see your dad and to talk with him about previous experiences they shared together plus quote Scripture. I am sure it was a visit enjoyed by all and what impressed me was that the Reverend thought he was in a good place, thus validating thoughts you might have wondering if it is a good place for your dad.

betty

Southhamsdarling said...

That is such a lovely, warming post and I'm glad that dad is in such a nice Nursing Home. When my mum was in a Nursing Home, she was always her usual self, but a few of the residents seemed to me to be a bit grumpy. I will always remember the Matron telling me that they haven't suddenly become grumpy because they're old. They've always become grumpy.

Debra She Who Seeks said...

Sometimes the old movies are the best, aren't they? But I'm looking forward to the Coen Brothers' remake of that other John Wayne classic, True Grit.

Mari said...

What a nice visit! I had to laugh when you said something about "Pickles". We have a man who calls his favorite CENA "Pickle". He loves pickles and says he loves her too. I asked him what my name was and he said - cucumber! He thought that was pretty funny.

Chatty Crone said...

That was wonderful of your mom!!! She sounds great. Love, sandie