Tuesday visit

Hi to all...this is Kate.

I went to see Mama and Papa today...and ended up calling for reinforcements from Margaret...bless you Margaret!!!

I began my visit by going to see Papa...which is what I usually do. His hearing aid wasn't working at all...I changed the battery and finally got it working after several attempts...He is down to one battery left on his night stand...who buys those? He will definitely need some more. The hospice nurse, Denise came while I was there, she had just seen Mama. She took Papa's vitals...and said things were good today. Papa was sitting up in the chair and she thought this was good. She said he is usually in bed when she comes. They said Mama had been sorting her socks and was very upset that one had a hole in it! We talked about how Mama always liked to have a project...and I told them how she used to sew...and especially how I used to love to watch her make quilts. Margaret and I used to get to help tie the knots on the little tassles. We also discussed the picture of the kids that is hanging in Papa's room...I pointed out all the kids and their names...Denise was happy to hear all of this.

Denise left and I visited with Papa...I showed him a couple of Megan's prom pictures...and talked to him about the girls. He was very talkative but also very confused...he was saying non-sensical things...but was animated. As I was getting ready to leave to see Mama...Papa said, "If I don't get to see your Mother....tell her...that I am thinking about her, and I love her." (This took a long time for him to say...but it choked me up so much that I had to ask, "Papa, do you want to go see Mama right now?" He looked at me for a few seconds and then said "YES!" with urgency I hadn't heard him use in a long time. So then I had to figure out how to make this work...I was supposed to pick up my babysitting kids in a half hour and they were twenty minutes away.

Of course....I could call my big sister Margaret...she would help! Three phone calls later, I tracked her down and asked her to meet me at Mama's so she could bring Papa back when he was done visiting. Then I called the pre-school to tell them I was going to be about twenty minutes late. Then we got Papa looking all handsome, brushed his hair...spiffed him up a bit...and off we went in the wheelchair. (Okay get your tissues now...)

When we got over to Mama's she was coming down the hall towards her room with an aide...She reached her hands out to Papa, and he did the same. She said "I missed you sooooo much!" He said he missed her too. He asked to stand up, and I held him up next to her...they hugged, and kissed. They both had tears rolling down their faces...I, of course was sobbing. (Good thing you weren't with me Fran...we would have been two basket cases) So there I was holding both of them together so they could hug. Papa quickly had to sit back down...and we went in Mama's room. Mama told him that she loved him so much...He couldn't hear her, so I had to repeat it for him...and then his words back...were all garbled. But he told me to tell her that he loved her "so big much". They seem to need a translator...and I think part of why Papa doesn't go anymore is...just like all of us find it so hard to go alone...so does he. The driver takes him and drops him off...Papa really needs one of us to go with him, both physically and emotionally. It was all such a tender sweet visit...it is a memory that I will never forget. Mama and Papa held hands in her room and kept patting each other. They kissed a few times, and hugged. Mama was having a lucid day, and was able to ask questions. She wanted to know when she could leave, and if Papa was still living at the house. She asked about her wedding ring...I told her that I had it and I was keeping it safe for her. She was relieved.

Margaret got there after I visited with Mama and Papa for a little bit. She was going to stay with them for a bit longer and then take Papa back for lunch. Again...thank Margaret for helping to make this happen. I couldn't have done it other wise. And it was such a huge gift for Papa and for Mama. He told me thank you so much as I was leaving, he had tears in eyes. I wish I could explain it all better...it was AMAZING. Words are not enough. He did say that he was delighted to have been able to come. That's a new word for him...not wonderful, or okay, or fine, but delighted. It was nice :)

I talked to Margaret briefly after I got home...she was getting Papa settled in his room...he was going to eat lunch in his room and take a nap. She said it all ended very sweetly...I'll let her share her version...Can't wait to hear all about it. No real medical news. Just the emotional stuff. It was a good day. I did tell Papa that I was praying that he and Mama would find each other in heaven soon, and that they would be happy and healthy and young! He looked at me and said, "Yes, that will be wonderful!" I'm going to keep praying...

Love to all you.

Kate