A Man’s Memories… or a lack thereof.

A Man’s Memories… or a lack thereof.

Today’s blog post is being written by Gary’s daughter Heather.

My son Alexander and I arrived in Elk Grove on Monday night. We came down to help take care of my Dad for the week while Ada was away at some school meetings. Ada left on Tuesday morning and is due back Thursday evening, tonight.

Well the week seemed to run pretty smoothly, only a couple of mishaps. Dad had forgotten that I had given him his morning pills one day and without my knowledge took his morning pills a second time. So after noticing that he had double dosed himself I have since hidden the pills and we are back to the correct amount and on schedule. Then there was the house hunt for Diva’s missing collar. I finally remembered that Dad had brushed her fur earlier in the day and found the collar in the back yard where he had unknowingly to me, taken it off.

Even though Dad was reminded every day and night that Ada would not be home until Thursday evening he still seemed to forget. Xander and I sleep in the guest bedroom of course, which upon occasion is where Ada ends up sleeping when Dad is too loud. I sleep with the room in pitch black darkness, no night lights or anything. So at 3:15 this morning I awoke to the sound of the guest bedroom door being opened. Since I was unexpectedly awakened it took me a moment or so to get my bearings on the situation. I heard Dad asking why I was in here and I said, “Because its bed time, it’s the middle of the night”. He continued to ask why I was in here and I said, “Because this is the guest bedroom”. He kept telling me he knew that, but why was I in here and I again said, “It’s the guest bedroom, this is where I sleep”. Then he said, “Was I being too loud?” I said, “I don’t know”. That’s when my brain finally kicked on and it dawned on me that he thought I was Ada. So of course I told him, “It’s Heather Dad, remember Ada is away at the school meetings and she won’t be home until Thursday night”. He finally understood, apologized and went back to bed. At 6:50 this morning I was again awoken by the sound of the bedroom door opening. At this time the sun was shining in and it lit the room up well enough that you could see everything in the room without the lights on. I popped my head up and asked if Dad needed something he continued walking into the room saying that he figured he must have done something wrong to have run me out of the bedroom last night. I said, “Dad I’m Heather remember, Ada is gone”. That’s when it struck him I guess as he starred at me and said, “Oh you’re Heather, that’s right”. I told him he was going to wake the baby as he continued to state that Ada was gone. He walked out and closed the door behind him.

I am so thankful that my Dad has been blessed with a great wife who loves him completely and unconditionally. I love Ada with all my heart. She may not be my mother and since she’s not much older than me I don’t even call her my step mom, which she technically is. None of that even matters. To me she is family and she always will be! To Xander she is Grandma and she always will be. I only have one thing to ask of her; Ada please don’t leave this world before my Dad does because he would be utterly lost without you.