The nursing called me back yesterday so I could talk with Dad. He had just gotten out of a shower and was feeling pretty chipper...he was speaking in an Irish accent and telling me he felt very Irish and then broke into a rolling laugh!
His voice sounded slurred and garbled to me...I had a difficult time understanding a lot of what he said... I stopped asking him to repeat himself because I did not want to frustrate him....
I'd pick up bits and pieces and we managed to have a pretty good conversation. He was very set on seeing his grand children. He suggested we put on a "wing-ding" and have a good time. I told him I would be coming out in a few weeks in June, and I would see what I could arrange... He was delighted. His tone of voice sounded hopeful...
I could hear women laughing in the background...so he may have been out in the hallway by the nurses station. Dad was distracted and talking and flirting with them, while talking with me...
Dad started talking about our ancestry...( not sure if it was part of another conversation with someone else, or him abrupty changing the subject of conversation...which he has been known to do on several occasions...)He began talking about being Scottish, German, and Irish. I added, we were also Pennsylvania Dutch, Welsh, and Norwegian. Suddenly Dad was excited and astounded! Oh yes! I am so glad you reminded me of that! I had forgotten all about it until you brought it up... Away he went, telling me all about the Vikings... I agreed we do come from sturdy stock...at least that is the part of the conversation I understood....
(Clearly he was distracted, he would say a few words, laugh, or say something, sounding like he turned away from the phone...)
I asked if he enjoyed his lunch and he told me he did... I asked what the workers were doing in the dining room and he told me they were just mopping the floors... (Not sure if that is true or not, because they were working in there when Mom visited earlier in the week...)
I had to eat in my room...but I prefer to drive my car over by the window so I can see out... I asked if he meant his wheel chair instead of a car...and Dad began to chuckle, I did too and pretty soon we were both laughing hilariously...
He told me how much he loved me and appreciated me calling. I reminded him I would be coming to see him in a few weeks...and of course, how much I love and miss him...
6 comments:
yea! glad that the nurse remembered and kept her word that she would have your dad call you! At least you made the connection with him, Donna, even though what he might have said didn't make much sense or seemed garbled. You got to hear his voice and he got to know how much you love him and that is good indeed!! And it is neat you'll be back down there in a few weeks!
betty
I think it is great that you and your dad can enjoy a conversation with each other so much.....even if you are not always having the same conversation.
I'm so glad she called you back so you could have this talk. Sounds like that conversation brought joy to both of you!
It's great that you had a chance to talk to your Dad. I'm just wondering if he's getting enough oxygen to his brain. Towards the end of my father-in-law's life (he lived to 99 1/2 years!) he was a little confused and told us he saw things out of the nursing home's window. Even as we sat there he described all the construction equipment outside driving by. Jim and I just went along with it. My father-in-law seemed more coherent when he had oxygen. Just something to think about.
I love your new header photo, and the words that you have written underneath it. Lovely! I'm glad you got to speak with your dad and hear his voice. That is so important for you, and lovely that you will be going down to see him in person in a few weeks time.
I often feel very Irish too.
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