Dear Dad,

I am so glad to be here with you on Wednesdays, "What's Happening! When you came into the kitchen two weeks ago at 10:30pm to get your own Root Beer, I glanced up from my bed in the dining room, two feet from you and smile. You turned with your walker and started back towards the sink & I'm thinking, "Oh how proud I am to see you go!" Then you started to fall. Suddenly, only like slow motion, I peeled myself out of bed and tried to grab ahold of you only to stop with the sound of a crash! My heart fell & the damn walker flew!

We buried ourselves in tears as I checked every inch of you for the next thirty minutes as you lay there helpless. Then there it was, YOUR BROKEN ARM. Swelling before my very tear soaked eyes. I wish it was me! You were so strong to help me through this very traumatic experience. We've now had Mother's hip, leg, your right arm, (twice) and a knee cap and now for the first time your left arm. All within two feet of me!

Of course we got you sat up, I cracked your Root Beer and then we called the ambulance. Sitting there with you for that hour, pondering all the rehabs and catheters we have handled we made up our minds that moment that no matter what you said to me, "Honeygirl, I want to stay at home, make sure they bring me back!"

I gave you my Pinky Promise and placed the call. We may be broken, but your spirit & grit have given me more life lessons than I ever could have imagined.

These golden years are tarnished with the contraptions they make you learn, from walkers to wheelie chairs. Your forgiveness of me working so hard to help you is the Gold I will remember.

Two weeks have gone by and you are finally able to get up & down again. I have belts & bed lifts installed. I will stand guard closer! I have rehab coming into the house 4 days a week & ordered you the double wheeled, extended tall walker. This

contraption will hopefully work better. However, that last walker, with the ski's we got, no review stated the hazard they are on the wood floors.

When I get the energy I will post a review. Until then I am following you around your home like a Cat! Well, a friendly cat. Confident & ready to start a more guarded life with you. Hang on Dad, let me know when it gets to be too much & I will grab my whistle & clipboard, march into these nursing homes & set up camp! Until then, I promise I will never stop doing my best.

Mother said, if you can't fix it, make it better! We are Dad. We are.

I love you more,

Me, #33

My Tree

B. KIND