Hoping ALF Visit Becomes Permanent

It looks like today might be pivotal. I am certainly hoping so.

My dad’s sleeping pill prescription failed to arrive yesterday, so he didn’t sleep all that well last night. He got up early and interfered with my breakfast routine. He was confused and not sure what to do. He asked me what time it was maybe a dozen times. He started asking me if I were angry with him.

I’m generally a little annoyed when I deal with him, because he refuses to do the right thing and he continually says things that aren’t true. He says he’s sorry for imposing on me, which obviously isn’t true, since he has the option of helping me out, as he should, by moving to an ALF. Still, I do my best to be polite. I don’t bark at him. I guess he thought I was mad because his conscience was bothering him.

I told him I wasn’t angry, but that I was not going to be happy with our situation until he moved. I told him the job was too much for me, and that it was making a real dent in my other responsibilities.

To my surprise, he said he would agree to a trial stay at the ALF. That was all I needed to hear. I’m working on setting it up right now. I want him in there TODAY. This afternoon, he may change his mind again.

I’m not going to get his baggage ready. I’m not going to do anything except put him in the car and GO GO GO. The little stuff can be handled once he’s there.

Man, this would be great. I can’t even remember what it was like to have a day when I wasn’t cleaning up disgusting messes or being shouted at. I’m sorry the end of his life has to involve this stressful and unwanted scenario, but the problem has to land on him or me, and it’s not right for me to throw my life away so he won’t have to face his problems.

Whenever I want, I’ll be able to go see him. Then I’ll be able to go home, in a clean car, to a clean house. If I need to travel for business, I’ll just lock the door and leave. I won’t have to worry about finding him walking around at night or in the morning, looking for something to do and spreading bacteria.

If it doesn’t happen today, it will still happen soon. Wonderful.

I have told God that if he unyokes me from this mess, I will never again let a non-Christian get close to me. Never. It’s as dumb as taking up smoking or heroin. You have to be a fool to keep doing it.

If you’re getting old and sick, and your kids aren’t in a position to care for you without having their lives ruined, my advice is to man up and move out. You didn’t reproduce so you could use your kids as prosthetics and slaves. It’s better for you to have a couple of less-than-ideal years than it is to force your kids to carry your burdens for you.