Giving Away His Books

Caregiving is exhausting, perhaps not physically - but definitely mentally.  It requires many new abilities:

The ability to withstand the Chinese water torture Repetitive questions you have just answered.  No dad, the cats aren't out they just came in.  No dad, the cats aren't out they just came in.  No dad, the cats aren't out they just came in.  No dad, the cats aren't out they just came in.

Join the local Liars Club to sharpen one's lying skills Go to the mail box and grab the bills and then pretend you haven't been there and let your father get the mail, so you don't have to go through the recycling and pull out all the bills later and hope you haven't missed one. 

Learn an infinite amount of patience (see Chinese water torture)

Learn to be a personal valet, accountant, handyman, wait staff and chauffer  No, that cup of coffee shouldn't be heated for 36 minutes, here let me do that for you.   Here, I'll clean the kitchen those dishes you just put away are dirty.  No dad, you can't drive - you haven't been able to drive for months.

It will also challenge you to learn compassion  The individual that was so smart and competent and could speak with intelligence on any subject now can't recognize a tuna fish sandwich when it is put in front of him - but will eat it anyway.

And if you don't have one, a dark sense of humor and an appreciation for irony.  The house is large, but he lives in the library, kitchen and his bedroom.  Dad recently stood in the library and looked at all his books and said that he thought he might give them away to the local Assisted Living facility eventually.  His reasoning: He might as well have his books donated there so he could still have them if he had to move there.  He said there might come a point where he might have to have someone look after him and make sure he got his pills, etc.  But fortunately, he was still able to take care of himself.  I just agreed with him and said, yep - good thing you can take care of yourself and we can worry about donating your books later.  Then he started to cry, what about my cats if I have to go there?  Your cats are fine dad, and you are in your own home, you don't have to go anywhere right now. 

Here, let me get you your pills and a chocolate chip cookie.  Would you like milk with that?

Notification to the Local Liar's Club:    I may be willing to run for President.