Changes

The past month has been surreal in many ways. For the first time in 38 years Jane and I are "between assignments." That might be a nice thing to experience if not for the fact that both of us are trying to figure out the best way to care for aging parents. On February 6th our 4th grandson was born. John Timothy. On the 9th I flew out of California having just experienced the great joy of a new grandson, yet on my way to Kansas where my father is struggling with dementia. He still knows the family, but when I arrived at the farm he assumed he was at MY house. Later, Jane and I drove to Wichita to close out her mother's house in preparation for a sale. At the nursing home Jane said, "I love you mom." Her mother replied, "I love you too. I don't know who you are, but I love you."

Life is filled with cycles. The sobering thought is that I'm next in line. I think I'm already getting forgetful. Kids, get ready to care for a pretty stubborn old man.