I haven't seen my dad in over 9 years. There's some baggage there but I don't wish to unpack it now - instead, my baggage will be light next week when I go to Wales to visit him at the care home. Tops, sandals, sunnies... I'll be beside the sea for a few days!... plus notebooks and pens for him, a bottle of his favourite lemonade, a decent newspaper and a book, 'Fermat's Last Theorem', which I'm hoping will light up some of his 96 year old synapses. It's right over my head - a bestseller about maths? - but my dad is just about holding on to his intellect whilst early signs of dementia (I think) are starting to creep in and our more cerebral phone conversations about climate change and protein in peas are now peppered with references to spies in the care home using "mindbending software". Or perhaps he's right?!
Notebooks, pens, lemonade, newspaper, a book, and some daughterly love. I made peace with the baggage!
I know I'm going to be something of an emotional wreck on my return, but I'm so glad I'm making this visit at last. Steeling myself, though. Deep breaths...
Sounds like the intro to a gritty black and white film they show on Channel 4. I can hear the soundtrack now as you leave your house and walk to the train station…
ReplyDeleteJM
What a great idea and angle, do you have time to write the script? (And the soundtrack!) I'm seeing my trip now in a whole new light!
DeleteAt the risk of undercutting the gritty nature of this film, perhaps you could disembark at Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch accompanied by the sound of Tom Jones singing "the old place looks the same as I step down from the train", just to make sure knows the audience knows you are in Wales.
DeleteEasy for you to say!
DeleteGrasp this with both hands, C.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Martin, you're so right. Feeling very weird about it at the moment.
DeleteAll the best C. Family baggage can be heavy but probably best grabbed hold if.
ReplyDeleteSwiss Adam
Thanks SA. Yes - just got to go with it.
DeleteBest of luck, C. I hope it all turns out the way it should.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Rol. I hope to make it as light as possible for us both when I'm there at least (the after effects are another matter!)
DeleteIt'll be an emotional day for sure but it's time I think. Some daughterly love indeed. As for the reading material, very few of us could master that tome at half his age so he's still doing ok I think. Hope all goes well.
ReplyDelete(As for the mindbending software, that's standard practice nowadays isn't it. In the... Whoniverse!)
Thank you Alyson. Back home now - all was ok. Very surreal (taking time to process it all!) but so glad to have seen him as he is now, in relatively good health and well cared for. And had a lovely break in beautiful Wales too!
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