Old Man, Old Cape Cod

Old Man
Today I spent five hours at CareOne at Dunroven. It was hard, because Dad had some upsetting moments, like when he was grouchy; choking and spitting up on his blue oxford shirt [again and again]; and then being foggy all of a sudden about the difference between his walker and a wheelchair. [They have the residents in the latter a lot at CareOne.] He couldn't even enjoy the hotdog, watermelon and lemonade at the Family Day picnic. They ended up on his shirt, because he has a choking problem sometimes.

I liked that I could be there for my Dad when he needed me. I am profoundly grateful to have known and know this man. Sis and Don were there for several hours also, and Will called on the phone. I saw tiny newborns being rocked in their grandparents' arms, little kids enjoying pink cotton candy and rainbow ice, men grilling burgers and hotdogs, just like Dad always used to. I'm trying not to view all he used to do as a loss, but rather as a happy memory. He seems to want to do that, too. It surprised me.

I filled out the very fat stack of papers that Dad needs to move into Assisted Living at Sunrise. He had to sign a few of them. He needs a new eyeglass Rx [one of many things on our Dad to-do list], so his signature was shaky.

Old Cape Cod
Tomorrow, out past the cranberry bogs* on Route 6 East and follow the signs to Provincetown till we turn off in North Eastham, right before the motel with the little red lighthouse out front, and Poit's Mini Golf. My friend Anne is driving, with her daughter, N., and Punch is coming, too! She hasn't been there since she was a baby.......now, she is 3-plus, the same age at which Figgy was so thrilled to run on the Cape Cod beach and see Nauset Light and Great Pond. I will be sure to take my vitamin in the morning.

Figgy just got home from 10 days in New Hampshire this evening, so she doesn't want to head to the Cape right away. She'll stay back with H. to see her friends. But since only certain weeks are free at the house, I want to seize the moment. Summer is short. We will be there for four nights!

I won't be able to blog Monday, because my laptop isn't starting, and the public library is closed. But Tuesday, I will sign up for my 30-minute slot on the computer, at the little library down the street from the windmill.

Too tired to write more, must sleep.

*The painting above is from Cape Cod artist Jane Lincoln's "Cranberry Bogs" collection. Find her striking work at janelincoln.com. I just also learned in her bio there that her work is represented at Cove Gallery in Wellfleet. We always go to Wellfleet for pancakes and cute T-shirts at the Wicked Oyster, and dinner at Mac's. Now, I will think of the Cove Gallery.