dad again

[arguchik]

my brother told me one other odd thing about my dad's trip to the hospital. apparently saturday morning when my dad woke up he found his clothes but couldn't find either his shoes or his pants (my brother wasn't sure which). a male nurse told my brother that my dad walked down to the nurses' station with his pocket knife drawn, demanding that they give him back all of his clothes so that he could go home. the nurse had to take the knife away from my dad (i'm not sure how that was accomplished) before he could go and help my dad get dressed. the nurse gave my brother the knife when he picked my dad up.

jeeeeez. now that'sc combative, eh? for some reason i find this story amusing, even as it saddens me in its illustration of how impaired my dad has become.

when/if my dad needs to go to the hospital again, i guess we'll have to be careful to take away his knife first.

ok, back to work...

Comments

[wondrousbeauty.livejournal.com]

Wow! It must feel strange to hear these kinds of things about your dad (though I suppose it was also strange the last time you saw him). Though maybe hearing this makes you grateful that you and your siblings stepped in when you did.

[arguchik.livejournal.com]

it is beyond strange. my father, one of the most peaceful, pacifist people i have ever known, actually threatened a nurse with a knife??? downright surreal in its departure from his "real" character. (of course this is his real character now, and i recognize that...it's just difficult to believe and to get used to such a huge change.)

[jennaxide.livejournal.com]

Sharon, your strength is an inspiration. Your family is struggling so much and it sounds like your father is terrified of a world that has stopped making sense to him. You all are so valuable to him.

[arguchik.livejournal.com]

yeah, dad has always been a frightened man. i could go on about that for hours, how he channeled his fears into fortifying his house so that it now stands like an airtight fortress around him and my mother. but it couldn't keep aging out, and it won't keep dying out either.

i'm not sure it's strength i've got; it's not like i have any choice about weathering this situation. it just is. but thank you. it helps more than i can tell you, to hear kind words from other people.

[malafrena.livejournal.com]

I sure am sorry you have to go through all this.

[arguchik.livejournal.com]

thanks. death and dying and aging (does aging = dying?) go along with living, i'm afraid.