Autumn, how I love thee. It was 57F when I started my run at 4:30 this morning, with low humidity and the sky a wonderful Van Gogh mosaic. I rolled along at an 8:10 pace and just tuned out. I looked at the stars and found myself thinking of my old gran, dead these past 15 years. I wondered if she was up there somewhere watching me (probably wondering what the hell I was doing up at this hour). I hoped she was proud of the man I'd become and the person I hope to be. I only wish she'd had a chance to meet Nancy and her great grandkids - they'd have loved her like I did, with her secret stash of toffees in her apron.
A great start to the day.
It's gotten a lot easier with Nancy's dad. Gavin told him off a few days ago for refusing to say please or thank you. After a night of sulking he appears to have come round and his attitude is a lot better. That may be partly because we're working him hard - we're making him walk to the bathroom rather than pushing him in the wheelchair. He bitches and moans and claims he can't do it, but he's perfectly capable - we're hard taskmasters and make him use the walker. He's gotten a lot better at walking, even in the last few days, and Nancy is relentless about making him do his exercises.
His problem is that if he can get away with not doing something, he'll gladly let you do it for him. So we have to constantly keep him under the hammer.
I had to laugh this morning - he needed a clean t-shirt, and the biggest one I had was my old UK Bungee Club shirt. He wasn't very impressed, and I doubt it'll see the day out.
I'm still running my daily mile with Gavin (though I don't count those miles as part of my running log). Last night we talked about bullies. Gavin told me there were two boys in his class who were bullies. I asked him if they were bullying him and he said no, but that they were bullying one of his little friends.
"So I stood up to them and made them leave him alone" he said.
I wanted to explore his thought process, so I asked him why he got involved when they weren't affecting him.
"Because it was the right thing to do" he replied.
He's got a big heart. I could have hugged him.
Actually, I did.
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2 comments:
Great post Marky, I've no doubt whatsoever Nan will be looking down on you and will be proud of the man you've become. I know we are.
Your kid is amazing!
Dad is coming along. As an OT, I've seen this situation play out many, many times. As an older person, it must be hard to become "subject" to your children. To be independent, doing things your own way, and then, WHAMO... you are in your daughter's house doing things HER way.
He didn't get this far in life nor come through his health issues being a "go with the flow" kind of guy. I imagine that his stubborn streak will be what gets him up and walking as independently as possible, sooner rather than later.
But I think Gavin is training him well, and I know he will cherish this time with Ol' Grandpa. Maybe you could slip Gramps some toffees or better yet, jelly beans that he could "sneak" to Gavin at any given time...
Have a wonderful day, Mark!
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