Friday (Day 61)

So, for Wednesday night...I decided to take my Mom out with some friends to see Neil Diamond at the Key Arena. She tried to bag out of the idea, but I insisted that she needed a night off. So, I had a limo pick her up and told her to dress in an outfit that would have Neil reaching out into the crowd! The limo showed up at my doorstep, where the rest of the group was waiting. The smile on her face when the driver opened the door was priceless. We continued on to a few destinations, cocktails, eats, then to the show. She rallied with us as if nothing was wrong in her world. I was very impressed with her poise. Our seats were better than I expected, but seperate from the group. I had to extra seats that I was forced to sell last minute due to cancellations...but it worked out for the best.

I have not cried for my Dad in awhile....I mean really cried. I have maintained my strength and composure for the most part, for him. As I have said before, there will be plenty of time for tears later. But, as I sat there with my Mom, I could feel her sadness that he was not beside her sharing this moment. She had a tissue on hand, and I noticed her using it several times. Neil had a few new songs, that were very powerful. On a few occasions, I couldn't even hear the music. He could have been playing the theme song to Gilligan's Island for all I knew. My thoughts were of who SHOULD be sitting with us. I began reflecting on his sacrifice again.

I thought of living 66 full years, only to be borderline paralyzed when you retire....when you are now able to enjoy all those years of hard work. Now he faces his hardest work yet. When does this man get a break??!! Then on top of all HIS hard work, his country is turning its back on him. So yeah, I cried...a lot. The night was a success, though it didn't run as smoothly as I thought it would. Post concert was a fiasco trying to get home. Anyway, she had fun...and that made everything else miniscule.

So Thursday came. His birthday!! I took the day off of work, and as soon as I was up and able, I cruised over to the SNF, and spent the next seven hours by his side. My Mom, Brad, and I took him in our car and for a drive down to the water. He held up wonderfully, and enjoyed it thoroughly. His "party" is going to extend throughout the weekend with a bevy of misc guests all weekend.

More talks of taking him home. I have to try to figure out how to make that place wheelchair friendly....economically speaking of course. Several thoughts have come forth. May be looking for help remodeling, if anyone out there is skilled. I am also being told that I may be forced to discontinue this blog. Stay tuned and keep my email handy in the event this suddenly stops. I posted it a few days ago....