An Impromtu Trip

My son-in-law, Robbie, came up with a brilliant idea Friday night.

Jessica and I had both been wanting to go see my Dad, but our work and family schedules have been stumbling stones for us. Today (Monday) is a holiday, so I don't have to work (YIPPPPPEEEEE!!!), and I had planned on taking David Riley (who doesn't have school for the same reason) and just driving down on my own. (It's 3 1/2 hours each way. Yes, that's a total of 7 hours in a car for a 5 year old!) Jessica was just checking my plans out with Robbie (who's regular day off is Monday) just to make sure he didn't have any plans that included David Riley, when Robbie had a brain storm.

Robbie: Your mom and I both have to work Saturday.

Jessica: Yes.

Robbie: You have to work Monday, but the rest of us are off.

Jessica: Yessss.

Robbie: None of us have to work on Sunday. Do you think your Mom would be interested in riding down in our new truck and all 4 of us going to see your Grandpa???

Jessica: I'll call and ask.

And so a plan was born. I don't like to miss church services. And I teach a Young Adults' Sunday School class. So, the decision really rested with me. I decided that my visiting my Dad (who I haven't seen since September) was just as important as being in church. Therefore, we left at 7:30 a.m. yesterday morning and took a very long drive. It was really a good visit.

I'm always a little apprehensive about visiting my Dad and Step-mom because with Daddy's dementia you never know what kind of reception you are going to get, or if he even remembers exactly who you are. There have been times when I have gone down, and he couldn't even remember my name, just called me "Sis" the whole visit. When I was there in September with David Riley, he kept calling DR "Paul Brian", which is my youngest brother's name. DR, of course, couldn't figure that out so he kept telling my Dad his real name. Dad just ignored him. Thank God, the last few times I've been down for a visit, he hasn't been violent. Emotional at times, yes, but not violent. He has been known to throw a few punches or break things when he gets really upset about something. I'm always a little worried about my Step-mom, because she's getting a little more frail each time I see her, and I don't think she could control Dad anymore if he gets violent.

Anyway, we had a great time visiting. David Riley and Dad just picked at each other like a couple of little kids and teased and laughed. It was so good to see. My Step-mom told Jessica, Robbie, and I to look around through all of the rooms and see if there were any items we wanted to take home with us. (Dad and Step-mom are "collectors" aka packrats.) So, we went rummaging through 4 or 5 rooms and found some old purses (Jessica had to have) and some old books (I had to have) and some glassware that Jessica had to do some fine wheedling to get from her Grandpa. (It was PINK, and Jessica LOVES PINK!) David Riley talked my Step-mom out of a BIG, FLUFFY, stuffed dog that he proceeded to tell Robbie and Jessica, "But it doesn't eat and it won't make any messes, and I'll keep him in my room!" (How do you say "No" to that 5 year old logic?)

Here's pics, so you all can see the family.