think good thoughts for my dad, please

it’s been… a week.

please enjoy this photo of my delightful nephew noah checking my dad’s heart

i could complain so hard right now, but instead i’ll just be grateful my dad is alive and functioning in any capacity. last week he experienced a series of mini-strokes on a layover while traveling to my brother in oregon.

he and my mom waved off getting medical care when he experienced leg weakness, but eventually relented to our begging. airport EMTs couldn’t figure out what it was, but i coordinated with my brother to get him to a hospital in oregon. after multiple tries, they got enough out of my dad to figure out it was a stroke. thank goodness they got him in when they did, because he lost some leg and arm control shortly thereafter.



i won’t publicly shame my parents’ lifestyle, but this was a long time coming. i guess now it’s time for me to stop politely suggesting life improvements and start pushing them hard. i’ve kept to myself over the years but i guess that has to change.

bless my brother for taking charge; i don’t know how he does it. both he and his spouse are forest service employees, so they’re getting harassed regularly by the federal downsizing thugs on top of handling all of this. i’m wishing i could be there to help, but i’m in (very slow) financial recovery mode and there’s no way i can afford a flight or hotel right now (plus, while i’m proud to have been car-free the last five years, it’s going to have its disadvantages in the coming situation.)

things could be so much worse, but man, it’s already hard to get up in this world. i’m trying not to to stick on the financial, logistical, and personal speed bumps that all seem to pop up as soon as things get rough.

anywho, my dad is alive, i’m grateful. i’m trying to keep going so i can keep him going. think good thoughts for him, please.