The two weeks leading into our Victoria trip, the trip itself and the week coming out of the trip all made us believe that the roller coaster was over and that Dad was now on a steady decline.
But no! He is again on an upswing. I have to wonder why he was on a downswing for so long and why now is he so much better. Is it getting back into a routine? The weeks leading into our trip were not routine. Is it seeing people more often? Again, our lack of routine took us away from choir on both a Monday night and a Wednesday afternoon plus we didn’t use his helper gal as much. Is it the unfamiliarity of travel/place and all that entails? He was definitely more “out of it” in Victoria. And even though it’s only a short flight, it probably tired him out. Is it his ongoing cold? We all seem to have one and man it’s lingering for all of us. Was it his ingrown toenail which is now better? Pain can do things to our state of mind.
Well whatever caused the downswing and then the upswing, I might never know but I’m gonna guess that routine and social activities play a huge part in his mental well being.
I’m also gonna guess that the way all of you interact with my Dad matters. Every single person he encounters in any of our choirs treats him with dignity, respect, understanding and as if he still totally, completely and resoundingly “Eric”. That’s amazing to me and I have no doubt it’s difficult sometimes but I also have no doubt that by so doing, he sees himself as “just being a bit forgetful”. Yes, that’s what he told me the other day.
And I thank you for the gift you are giving to him.
a little P.S. – I forgot to check if he had put the correct binder into his bag on Wednesday….nope, he hadn’t. So, my manager kindly loaned him hers but it didn’t have anything highlighted for him or any of his stage directions. I soon realized that all that extra stuff I write into his script and songs really pays off for him and allows him to participate more easily. Cool! And yes, I will remember to check his bag from now on…..silly me.
