This week was fly a kite week at Audrey's school. My father had never flown a kite before, although all of his ex-wives suggested he try it a time or two. David and I took my Dad to the school to fly kites with Audrey. My Dad was excited to fly his and I began making little comments about his life in the "home". I assured him that when the times comes for us to put him in a "home" we will come and do activities with him, like kite flying. I watched as in his excitement my father became ridiculously tangled in his kite string. He did not understand why he could not step out of the string.... I patiently untangled him realizing my jokes were hitting closer to home than I realized.
Day two of his visit was more eventful than either of us could handle. We were supposed to go to my sister's house for lunch, she lives on 645 by the prisons. My father was going to follow me in his car and leave for his home in Houston from Jennifer's. We stopped, on the way to Jennifer's house, at Box Car Deli for ice. Everything was going fine, until my father followed a turquoise minivan out of the gas station. I was confused, I drive a sage colored SUV. I raced up beside him on the loop, honking and waving. He looked at me, did not recognize me, and exited onto 155. I was shocked. I pulled over onto the shoulder, hoping he would get back onto the loop. He did not. I did a U-Turn and attempted to find him, but he was long gone. I was a little panicky. I returned to the gas station and waited in the parking lot. I called my sister and she said I should come to her house, because he knows where she lives. I called David, Morgan and Amanda, placing then all on alert that he was lost. My father was missing for over an hour, a tense hour.
He said he followed "me" angry, because I was driving like a bat out of hell, he could barely keep up, and he did not know where I was going. Fortunately, the light was red in FRANKSTON. He pulled up beside "me", ready to gripe me out. Another Elderly man, driving a turquoise minivan rolled down his window, agitated, and said to my Dad, " Can I Help You." Evidently my father had been riding his bumper for 30 minutes. My father, even more confused, apologized and explained he was following the wrong car. He returned to Box car Deli, I was no longer there. He went inside the Gas station, confused and lost. They allowed him to use the phone. He called my sister and by this point he was having a panic attack. His mind was unclear, he could not focus and he was AGITATED!!!! My sister told him to begin driving down 79, and I went to wait for him on the side of the road, by the entrance to the Wal-mart warehouse on 79. I got out of my car in anticipation of him not recognizing my vehicle again. I was ready to frantically wave him down and chase after his car if necessary. I waited what felt like 30 minutes, (I was impressed that the majority of drivers leaving the warehouse checked to make sure I did not need any help).
Finally, I saw my Father's car. He was a little disoriented, but he followed me the rest of the way to Jennifer's house. He left a little earlier for home than he had originally planned. I am sure he was ready to get back to his turf. The maze of Houston freeways are nothing to this man who can not navigate the Palestine Loop.
I do not know how to end this blog. My emotions over the entire weekend are a little bittersweet. It is sad to see my father's mental capacities begin to slip, but I am so fortunate to still have him. I can only Pray that God allows him dignity and health in whatever amount of time he has left.