In 2003, Ma had a stroke. Dad was her full time caregiver until he he had a car accident that totaled the car. So in 2006, I became their chauffeur among other jobs.
At the time, to deal with the stress of running two households and working, I kept a blog entitled CJ's Whine and Cheeze. Egged on by some friends who enjoyed the first read through, you'll see your part when it comes by.
Wednesday, December 05, 2007
Advice
The mail arrived with a check for the phone bill and a letter from Dad, a newsy note. The Brother had gone to pay them a surprise visit on Sunday. The surprise was on The Brother as the Weebles were not at home. Dad's friend had taken them for storm supplies on a three hour shopping expedition to Market Basket. Lord knows how they would make it through the one to three inches of snow without a case of Pastene canned tomatoes. Dad was sorry they missed The Brother's visit but was pleased with The Brother's phone call later that evening.
The end of the letter turned to Dad venting. Seems Ma was singing the "He's Stupid" song. No surprise there. I did chuckle at the last paragraph, some words of advice from father to daughter.
Growing up, Dad really didn't have much to say to The Brother and myself. When he did have something to say, he was like that old E. F. Hutton commercial. "When E. F. Hutton talks, people listen."
"...It's wonderful to have a perfect wife, pure as can be. I keep telling her that perfection was made 2,000 years ago. And we ain't going to sing Ave Marie.
Love,
Dad
P. S. Don't you ever get to be like her.
I'm listening, Dad, I'm listening.
I don't think you sound like your mother at all. I'm getting more like mine in some ways, but definitely not exactly like her. I hope any traits of your mother's you have, they are the good ones! Stay dry today.
ReplyDeleteAt this stage, Ma wasn't really Ma anymore. The stroke took that away from her. Changed her personality. In a sense, Ma died when she had the stroke, but there was still a woman that looked like her sometimes sounded a little like her, but wasn't her anymore. We couldn't throw her out so had to love her as best we could. Sometimes that was hard for Dad to understand because he loved Ma and wanted his wife back the way things were before her stroke.
Delete🤣🤣🤣🤣
ReplyDeleteDad could be so funny.
DeleteLOL. Your father sounded like a hoot.
ReplyDeleteDad would have told you he was a character. He liked that. He was wicked smart, a Renaissance man. And he could be really funny
DeleteYep, sounds about right. lol
ReplyDelete