Daddy dearest

Each time I meet my dad I realize all over again about just how sweet my dad! He’s visiting with me after 3-4 months and seems to have aged so much more.. The very thought that old age is catching up with my 75-year old parent is scary and something beyond my imagination.. But anyways, before I get all maudlin and start to sentimentalize, I’d love to share some things we did this past 3-4 days:

• He’s been playing scrabble with me – he seems to be into the game so much that he wont even listen when I tell him that words like ‘ra’ are acceptable.
• We pull out all the vowels and share them – he seems to hate the idea of having more than one vowel on his rack at the same time! So, by the time we are half way through the game, we lay out the irritating ‘a’ ‘e’ ‘i’ ‘o’ ‘u’ – that way either of us gets to use any vowel we need in a word – ah, the 7 coins-on-your-rack is completely forgotten by this time!
• I kept reminding him that it was dinnertime – he just wouldn’t want to put the board away.. so much so that it was 2 hrs past my usual dinnertime before he let me eat! and even then, with the board by his side... Oh lord! Please, please, please :)
• He’s been taking care to not do things I don’t like. The sweet old man is actually, ACTUALLY, trying so hard! You know the usual stuff... The wet towel, the toilet seat… Whoever thought that my dad would start thinking about such things?
• He found this book on Buddha and has been reading like a bestseller… and he says the book is pure NECTAR :)
• He’s been so concerned about some changes I am planning and assures me that his lack of sleep and appetite are only because of me.. Try that for size on emotional blackmail! :))
• He’s been following me around like a little lamb that I don’t feel like leaving him alone – I actually thought of calling in sick from work...Is this what happens as we grow older? When we realize that our parents ‘depend’ on us?

I only pray to god that my old man stays happy and around - always... do wishes come true really?

hhhmmmmmmmmm...