Dad's condition

Taken most of this post from an email to a family member, its been changed and updated

Things with dad have been going well, took him out for a walk the other day. The last two days he's been to the bank with M and then today he follow J (the landlord) around the house for a few hours as they fixed some drafts and mouse holes and then they started looking at fixing the faucet in the kitchen. J was there from 2pm until about 630. Which meant dad was on his feet for the entire time.

Gave M the hours for the Aqua Size/Fitness class for the pool. She's very interested in going to it with dad since he's allowed to swim. He's not sure about it, he needs to get his own clearance from Dr first. My brother also gave him the skating schedule as well, he's not as keen on that with his back and lack of good balance, that might be something for next year.

M was talking last night about going to get their bikes from the trailer in Newfoundland and having them in Cape Breton for the summer, so that they can get some use out of them. They don't want to spend a lot of time in Newfoundland either to keep him away from the drinking over there while he's still so tempted.

Speaking of tempted, he asked M for a glass of wine with supper the other night, she gave him a wine glass with water and ice in it.

He had a hard time remembering my nephew's name last night and the fact that it was his mom who was pregnant after he first asked us when we got there. Though, he knew one of them was.

Overall his brain functions have been similar to what they've been for the last couple of years, always stumbling for words to finish his sentences and coming up with names is a little tricky for him most days. This is probably something thats always going to give him trouble since its been on going for so long, probably some short term memory loss from the drinking. Gave him a hockey question with my brother the other day and our hint was "his sisters son's name" - he's been calling him by a nickname for so long that it took him almost 30 minutes to work it out.

We gave him a hard time tonight about calling the girls and gave M the numbers for both of them and told her anytime after noon tomorrow would be great to call, even if its just to leave a message. This is the same thing K has been fighting with him for the last couple of years. Thats the best we can do about it though, he's an old stubborn man and it takes alot to get through to him. Brought up AA a little, he still wants to get his balance better before thinking of going. I'll probably mention it once a week when I'm talking to him though.

(Back to my sisters, when dad was moving out of the house he had issues with one of my sisters - they had a screaming match one day and he went to work for his 2 weeks. By the time he was done his shift she was in Vancouver without a job or a place to live just to be as far away from his temper. The other sister had a run in with him when he came back to take the computer that "he paid for" which she didn't agree with. My sister got married away so he wouldn't have any input in the wedding and wouldn't even be required to attend. He showed up as per the invitation but brought along his girlfriend without asking anyone or getting permission. He spent most of the week in his room with her drinking, as per usual. Since then they haven't called him or really told him they were pregnant, it was up to my brother and I to fill him in on their lives, babies and new houses. Makes me sad really. There are 3 people in this relationship and all of them are stubborn about things that have happened in the past. They're all just a bunch of Dumbasses.)

Thats all thats been going on, he's been really chatty and chipper with us when we've been visiting with him, which is a nice little change. We took it easy tonight with our last visit and let the dogs run around like crazy for a while.

I am now in complete possession of his wine making kit. His empty bottles, his containers, filters and all his measuring and temperature gauges. I'm at a loss as to what to do with it. Neither my wife or I drink wine, we have no intentions of ever making it. Deep down in the recesses of my heart I want to keep it in hopes that if he ever gets better he could maybe have a glass of wine with his supper, but I know that he can't stop at just one. (Reminds me of old Ruffles commercial.)

I'm just going to recycle it.