My quirky dad

Ok, so as most of you know, my dad has lived with me for a year now due to his health. And what a year it has been: constant trips to the doctors, middle of the night runs to the emergency room, frantic 911 calls, and just the daily care of his legs, meds, etc.

I am no martyr...but honestly, I do not mind taking care of him. It does get tiring...esp. the constant complaining. Here lately, he is convinced he is going to die of a heart attack. We have been to the ER several times. He complains constantly of pain; but there is nothing showing up on his ekg's. Nothing in his blood work either to indicate heart stress. Due to his thinking he is on deaths door, he has done some things lately that just are begging to be blogged by me. ;-)

Early this week we were sitting at the table eating supper. Out of the blue dad says, "Tonya, I want to pay for Shelby to get a tattoo." I dropped my fork and my mouth just swung open. Speechless, I was. (A little back ground info here.....off and on for a few years now, Shelby has wanted a tatoo. I always say, NO, not as long as you live in my house...)
I finally got my breath back and said, " Now dad, what exactly do you want it to say? Pops?"
And then of course I look at her and ask her if she put him up to that, she and he both said no.
Here was his reasoning: If you let her get one now, she will see how painful it is. Plus maybe she will get it out of her system and not want anymore." My response: Well, lets just let her go have sex, or go drinking so she can get it out of her system." Ok, I know, a bit unreasonable, but I was still in shock that he was taking HER side! :=) What her fascination with tattoos is, I dont know. And she has one all picked out just in case I say yes. Which, by the way, prob. will not happen.

Another day this week, I wake up and go in the kitchen. Dad is sitting there. I notice 2 packs of gum on the counter. He said, "those are for Shelby." He had gone to the store to get his mother a birthday card, and pick Shelby up some gum. Let me note that he is always doing that here lately. Everytime he goes to the store, he picks something up for her. He then told me, "I got her that. I dont know if you have noticed, but I have been buying a lot for her. I want to get her as much as I can before I die. Next month, I am going to ger her a blackberry". I said," A blackberry dad? come one, really? Does she need a blackberry?". He said, "Maybe not, but I want to get her whatever she wants while I am still able to do it. " Again, I was speechless. She has not asked him for a blackberry. I told him that inJuly our phone contract is up for renewal, and we would be able to get a better deal then. But he is convinced he is not going to live that long.

Then, today. I am on the couch reading. He walks out of his room and hands me several sheets of paper. He has written out his will. He has listed all his early possessions (which is not much) and who he wants them to go to. By each one, he wrote a personal note to the person receiving the item. (very touching, and sometimes, just plain funny) He wanted me to make sure it sounded ok. I said, yes, dad, it does. So he signed it, and I put it in a safe place. I am hoping I will not have to pull it out for a very long time.