Saturday...

This is the first Saturday since early August that I have been without an outside obligation. I had planned to sleep for as long as possible. It was 9:30am when my Dad called and woke me. I lied to him and said he didn't wake me. He wanted me to come over to help him with a few chores (you know, the kind of chores where you stand there and hold the tools for him and fetch what he needs).

Growing up this kind of helping drove me insane. I would sigh a lot and act annoyed. Today I treasured the experience and that he had called me to help him. Typically he calls my sister since she doesn't have kids and always has much more free time than I. So today he called me. I was happy to come over and just do that dumb kind of helping that requires so little effort and exertion. It wasn't like I had to rake the leaves or scrub a floor. I enjoyed having the time with him. I realize that he called me because she had gotten in a bit of a fight with him this week. That or he might have called me just because she is pregnant and cranky.

Either way, I'm glad. I'm glad she is finally sick of him and is willing to pull back a little bit so that someone else can be part of his life. She tended to act offended in the past if I stepped into the territory that she had staked claim. Now she is burdened by the claim she staked. She has been annoyed with him for the better part of the last year. Maybe this is the beginning of a time when I can enjoy my Dad and where he doesn't always call her first. I'm just happy to be able to help him. He has helped me so much through the years, it is a gift to me that I can assist him. He was so glad to have the help. I told him to call me anytime. I'm glad to share the duties and the chores. Now that my kids are older (9 and 10) it is so much easier to take them along and not have them destroy the house!

Dad is 68 and has heart problems. I'm going to enjoy every moment I have with him. Losing my Mom has taught me perspective. I am also learning to ask for what I want. Today I told dad that I would like to have him moderate a discussion between my sister and I regarding my Mom's jewelry. I told him that this discussion would be best done with his oversight. He smiled and I knew he knew what I meant. He said to set a date and we will do it. Now I just need to get my sister on board. It will come.

Life is too short not to enjoy what you can while you can. I want to wear one of my Mom's rings. I want to feel her with me all of the time when I look down at my hands. My hands are becoming more like her hands.... I miss her hands. I miss her.

I'm glad Dad is still here...

The picture above is not my Dad, it is some old guy who enjoyed the sunshine the other day. Not a bad way to spend a day!