Report on Dad May 9, 2010

Hi, All,

I checked in with my brother John today about how Dad's been when he's visited. He visited Dad with his oldest daughter Lisa recently. John reports that Dad was much the same as he was the last time John saw him, responsive and attentive, but not initiating conversation. Dad said he was feeling well, and he seemed to be in good spirits.

John's wife Elaine also visited Dad recently with her mom, Marian Monson, and Lisa. Elaine reports that Dad enjoyed that visit very much. (Marian is a long-time friend--Dad has known her for decades, from even before her husband, Sam, and Dad taught together in the English Department at BYU, enjoying many years together as friends and colleagues.)

John mentioned that my sister Martha's husband, Dave, had described a time recently when Dad was confused about who the people were in pictures he has in his room.

Lucy sent me a report on a recent visit she had with Dad where he was also confused:

"I went to see Dad and he was sitting in the TV area. He was very chatty although not making a lot of sense. I think some of what he was saying was about the basketball game on TV although he kept calling the teams a group. He told the nurse I was his cousin and when I left, he told me to give his love to Aunt Doll. [It sounds like he was thinking of Lucy as one of his cousins that he grew up with and was close to.]

"Physically he seems in good shape and he's very sweet with the nurses. The one fairly new nurse said Dad had remembered his name, so the memory thing isn't constant. He seems content."

I spoke to Dad briefly twice since my last report. Elaine phoned me when she was visiting, and I spoke to Dad again tonight. He's clearly genuinely pleased to hear from me--whether he knows who I am or not. (I know from when we were caring for him at home that he's unfailingly gracious to everyone who phones or visits.)

As at other times, I told him a couple of fun stories, and told him I love and miss him. I explained that I'd received training as a census worker last week, to go to the homes of those who haven't returned their census forms. I told him I'd be standing on porches saying to the man or woman standing in front of me, "Are you male or female?" He chuckled at that and at my stories about my grandson who has learned to say cookie--which he pronounces "ugh," but which he very much wants to eat!

When I asked Dad how his day had been, he said his days were pretty much the same. I wanted to ask if he'd attended the LDS Sacrament Meeting they hold there every Sunday, but I assumed that by evening he wouldn't remember even if he had attended.

I have a friend who believes that a person becomes more of who and what they are as they age. I'm not sure that's always true, but I'm grateful that with Dad what is left is a gracious, loving man who treats everyone with kindness and good humor.

As always, thanks for reading and caring!