What About Grandpa This Holiday Season?

Everyone looks forward to a holiday. The whole family will be together. Make sure that someone is available to pickup Dad, he really loves these get together. We have to watch him so that he doesn't spill something on the new carpet. His hands just aren't as steady as they once were. His speech isn't as clear anymore but listen close and you can understand him. But after all it will just be for a few hours.

We all remember to pickup our parents and grand parents for the special occasions. But what about the rest of the year? We are all busy and Dad is in a good place. They take good care of him there. We just don't have time to go see him this week, next week for sure. He will understand. That is the same excuse we all use.

Yes he knows you are busy. You told him so the last time you saw him. So he sits in his room and waits for the medicine call. Three meals and two med call break up the day for him. He has learned to live with the loneliness and the hope that you will come tomorrow. But those tomorrows seem to get less often. But he knows you are busy. He says that sitting and looking out the window isn't so bad. Since you put the bird feeder up, birds stop and eat all the time. They look so free. Maybe one day you might come by and watch the birds with me. But I know you are so very busy.

When you were young and fell off your bike. The first person you called for was Dad. He taught you to climb a tree, throw a fast ball and how to ride your bike. He fed, clothed and loved you no matter what. But as you grew and had your own family, he gave you room to grow and be your own person. He always had a smile of pride and encouragement for you. But as he grew older and his sight started to fail, no longer able to drive you spared a few minutes to take him shopping for food and clothes. But as his health started to fade you put him in assisted living. It was a good place and you are so busy.

Yes, you are so very busy with your work, parties and golf. Remember he is still your Dad. Was he ever to busy for your needs? Were you ever told that he could only stay a few minutes because he was so busy? Who took the time to be at all your ballgames, cheering for you even when you played bad. Remember how he loved to fish and always took you along. That is until you became a teen and was to old to be seen going places with Dad. You just knew that your friends would laugh. Is that where you became so very busy.

Let's just hope that all we have to look forward to is Med call. Two hours till lunch. I was really hopeing you would come visit today. But I know you are so busy. So very busy.