Whither Saturday?

I'm never quite sure what to put in a Saturday post, especially because the vast majority of people generally don't seem to read it until Monday. (Get me--I'm using phrases like "vast majority" in reference to the audience for this blog. That's amusing, since it amounts to like 3 people.)

So I end up just nattering on about what I did during the day. Which is what I plan to do here.

It started off with a trip to the dentist, as all good things do. Caleb, rambunctious simian that he is, whacked his tooth on the coffee table a week ago. It was wobbly but wasn't causing him pain, so we decided just to keep an eye on it. Last night, though, while he and Joanna were wrestling about, it got knocked again, only this time it didn't settle back into place. Therefore, this morning we went down to a family dentist in Highland. Caleb was a trooper--other than being unable to hold the x-ray films in his mouth (which I can barely do), he was remarkably composed. His only complaint was that the dentist's chair didn't go high enough--he had a hankering to touch the ceiling, apparently. The folk in the office were nice, too, so we may be going there from now on. And without even having to call that girl at 1-800-DENTIST.

Then Joanna went off with Madeline to go see her grandfather. It's not been a good week for grandfathers--Joanna's sister's father-in-law passed away this week. Now her grandfather's health is deteriorating. Beyond the basics, their cases are very dissimilar. The death was sudden and unexpected; Joanna's grandfather has been ailing for several years. At this point, it's a matter of trying to make things as comfortable as possible before the end.

It's a difficult thing, and one that I have been spared from directly my whole life. My grandfather who passed on did so in another state when I was unable to see him--it all passed like a strange story that was happening to someone else. I think of him often, but his passing isn't something I had to endure firsthand.

In many ways, I wish I had known Mr. Mars earlier than I did. He was a lucid and warm man when we met, but he was already ailing, moving slowly with a walker or in a wheelchair. His den is filled with memorabilia from his service with the Rotary, with the Girl Scouts, and other charity organizations. For those in the know who read this, he ran an antique store in Idyllwild for years called The Way It Was; oddly, I'm pretty sure I wandered through there more than once years ago when I was counseling at Camp Maranatha. From the stories I've heard, he was a giving and charnming man well beloved by his many friends and family members.

In the past few years his condition has been worsening. He stopped using the walker, and then was reluctant to get in the wheelchair. For several months now he hasn't left his bed. In the meantime, Joanna's grandmother has had to take care of him on her own for the most part (with the help of family and some of their associates in the community, but that only goes so far). He rarely speaks and when he does it's quite limited.

I can only say that it makes me think seriously about the future. I don't know what will happen, of course, but I can't imagine how much harder such a trial would be without the support of friends and family. I know we don't get down there enough, though I'm very glad Joanna got down there today in case there aren't any further chances. It's so easy to get caught up in life and day-to-day concerns, but trying to imagine how it would feel to lie in pain, in discomfort, in the seemingly endless hours as each day passes... it makes my heart falter. Of course we don't always have the opportunity or means to visit often with those we love, but for me, this week, give your family a call, huh?

Your mother and I will be very proud of you.