pardon me but i seem to have misplaced my october

I know I had it right here. I am talking about my October which has gone missing.

Just a few moments ago I was sitting here dreaming about going here.

Time was on my side.

I was still pumped with artistic energy from this adventure and looking forward to visiting friends at this party.

It was end days of summer and I had such plans for autumnal activities.

I distinctly remember that I had my October in my pocket as I dreamed of cooler days.

I distinctly remember walking out of here thinking how great the sun felt on my sandled toes and my bare arms. I was full of grand expectation for biking riding here and day dreaming here.

Florida in October translates to days less humid and to nights with outdoor concerts.

First one thing and then another happened to my dear dad. You can well imagine how dealing with such unwanted things can plum drink up a person's time.

Sip, sip. Gone, gone. Here and then not here. Hours, days, weeks ---->missing.

Hey. I am not complaining, just explaining how Life can look at a person's pen-marked calendar, toss her head back mockingly and  exclaim in a sassy manner, "You're doing what? When? Nah... I don't think so. "

Most things are turning out OK as my family adjusts to new, and hopefully temporary, challenges. We were extremely fortunate to have caring and knowledgeable health providers taking care of my dad as he moved from the hospital to a half-way home for the elderly ill.

Extremely fortunate.

When I sign myself into my father's rehab center/nursing home I see names I recognize from my past. It is like a class reunion for me over there at the nursing home.

I should not be surprised as this is my hometown and my high school friends naturally have parents my dad's age. We lucky ones with parents still on earth are facing similar issues.

When I visit my dad, I grab an opportunity to chat with a friend visiting her mom. Our parents are on the same wing. We discuss home health care options and Medicare coverage.

When I was in high school I never saw this coming.

Personally I am doing OK. I do my best to be floating in the Now.

I try to flow downstream with the confidence that what I need is waiting for me there just around the bend in the creek.

I  gently float and bob along hoping not to get swallowed under by some unexpected current.

I float and bob, float and bob.

I try to ensconce myself in thoughtful prayers and silent meditations. I do my darnest not to Google every single medical term I hear over there at the nursing home.

I only computer research the terms I can spell.

During this float and bob time I have taken great solace from those who have offered encouraging words and sent heart-felt prayers my way.

Calls, cards and e-messages zoomed through the sky to be at my side, to keep me company as I float and bob along.

{{ Thanks ever~so for thinking of me and my family. I just cannot say this enough----> Thank you. }}

About my dad. He has charmed every nurse and aide on staff. I can hardly stand it.

"Your father is so cute!" they praise. I can only imagine what he might have said or done as he walks up and down the halls like the energizer~bunny chasing after his memory, holding on to some young nurse's arm.

"Let's go home,"  he says loudly when we stroll, holding my hand as we pass the nurses station, looking around. "Where is your mother?"

Weeks ago we lied and told him this was the Health Care Hotel. He thinks the whole family is staying in different rooms. My sister tucks him into bed every night and he wonders why we are not all in the same room.

"Where is your mother?" he asks her.

"In the next room," my sister lies.

The women in my family have become the best liars in town.

In the morning we start all over because my dad forgets. My mom drives across town from home and sits with my father at breakfast, trying to get him to eat.

"I'm really not very hungry," he explains politely before he is off to physical therapy where he does things to make him stronger. His arms and legs are too thin but he carries on.

"Just tell me what I am suppose to do," he says.

So we do.

When I visit we do things. I bring a bag of tricks to fill the time. I say this is to entertain my dad but mostly I just cannot sit and do nothing.

This is the part where I have honestly learned to float and bob, I think.

Every chance I get I play this with my dad. An unexpected gift from a friend a year ago and now I am playing it with my father. I call out the words in Spanish. My dad acts like he understands. La sirena. La rosa.

On a good day my dad can play four cards. We play until every colorful picture is covered with a round, yellow plastic disc. Every time  we play it is the first time for my dad. Then we pick a card and try to draw it on notebook paper, coloring and shading it with colored pencils.

Some days we take old magazines  and brighten up the pages with magic markers.

Talk about being in the Now.

I have misplaced my October and a sizable chunk of my November but I think things are going to be OK.  What is a missing month or two, really? I am over here looking forward to the time when my dad will be home again.

We hope it is soon.

My entire family has been floating and bobbing along for such a long time we have become water~logged and are feeling a bit sinky at times.

Mostly we want to just sit in the sun like turtles on a log.

As nice as it is, we have grown weary of the Health Care Hotel. Days, entire weeks can go missing here.

I am just warning you.