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Like a Real Family
Nov. 5th, 2009 03:47 amAfter calls from step-siblings in PA regarding dad's condition, I'll be traveling back to Erie on Friday. He's been in the hospital for about a week, presumably with complications from a fall suffered some weeks ago.
Right now, he's fighting an infection of unknown origin and not responding especially well to a cocktail of powerful antibiotics. My step-sis said a week ago that if I had to choose, based on child care and other considerations, that she'd rather have me miss the funeral but get to see him one last time.
Then, unexpectedly, circumstances seemed to clear the way for what will likely be that final visit this weekend. But even before that, she and my step-brother had kindly offered lodging, transportation and whatever else they could do to make it happen. So Little Jay and I will be making the trip on Friday.
In a sense, it'll complete the circle begun when dad came here with my sisters four years ago on his 90th birthday. There's a picture taken at a local restaurant where we a had a sort of birthday dinner and dad met his first great-grandchild for the first time. Little Jay's mom and dad were still together so we looked, for the moment, like a real family.
Still, the reality is that we'll be a family again this Friday. And it'll be the family my dad might have envisioned when he married the step-kids' mom those years ago when they both needed someone to fill the void left in the aftermath of respective personal tragedies.
I hope for him that there'll be at least a few lucid moments when he's able to see this as he looks out at those gathered around him. I know that for me it's already been felt in the kindness of our adoptive family's concern for him and me and the little boy...
Right now, he's fighting an infection of unknown origin and not responding especially well to a cocktail of powerful antibiotics. My step-sis said a week ago that if I had to choose, based on child care and other considerations, that she'd rather have me miss the funeral but get to see him one last time.
Then, unexpectedly, circumstances seemed to clear the way for what will likely be that final visit this weekend. But even before that, she and my step-brother had kindly offered lodging, transportation and whatever else they could do to make it happen. So Little Jay and I will be making the trip on Friday.
In a sense, it'll complete the circle begun when dad came here with my sisters four years ago on his 90th birthday. There's a picture taken at a local restaurant where we a had a sort of birthday dinner and dad met his first great-grandchild for the first time. Little Jay's mom and dad were still together so we looked, for the moment, like a real family.
Still, the reality is that we'll be a family again this Friday. And it'll be the family my dad might have envisioned when he married the step-kids' mom those years ago when they both needed someone to fill the void left in the aftermath of respective personal tragedies.
I hope for him that there'll be at least a few lucid moments when he's able to see this as he looks out at those gathered around him. I know that for me it's already been felt in the kindness of our adoptive family's concern for him and me and the little boy...
