Monday Live

Today was the family Lunch Bunch.

It was a good time, like always.

We average 10-15 people now.

After lunch I returned to Mom and Dad's 

assisted living facility with them.

Dad napped and then we went into the hall for a walk.

We ran into one of their neighbors.

He has been there a few weeks.

He grew up by my dad

but is about 12 years younger.

He ran around with my dad's brother, George

and my mom's brother, Ralph.

He has sat at dinner with my folks.

He has visited with them several times.

He also has short term memory loss.

We visited in the hall 

and then Mom invited him into their apartment

so they could sit down and visit.

Do you remember SNL's Mr. Short-term Memory?

I was stuck in an episode.

I have to laugh about it.

It's that or shoot yourself in the foot. 

The neighbor tells us in the hall...

"I saw that name on your door and wanted to come meet you."

"I used to know people by that name."

I think to myself, yes, you did last week.

So he comes in and sits down.

He tells us all about how his sons

have taken away his license and his car.

He says they lied to the doctor 

about him being  unable to drive.

Yes, he is disoriented but he can drive.

But, he tells us he isn't going to rant about it.

Dad interjects "I had a John Deer tractor and a thresher."

The  man says "my kids have taken away my car

 and lied to the doctor all about it."

the whole story again followed by 

"but, I am not going to rant about it anymore."

Dad tells his tractor story.

The man tells his license story.

I get up to get a drink (water, just water )

He says "Oh you found it. I keep it there to take my medicine."

I think to myself "Crap. 

He thinks we are in his apartment.

Now, he will never leave!"

I am pretty sure Mom is oblivious.

He says "you live in 31."

I say "you live in 31."

He says ...

"when you leave you are 3 down."

Mom says "there is just 2 doors between us."

I am sure now she has no clue what he is thinking.

Dad says "I had a John Deer tractor and a thresher."

He says " I used to go to school with your brothers.

My boys have taken away my driver's license."

This goes on for 30 minutes.

The whole discussion...where we live,

who has a tractor,

who has had their license wrongfully taken away.

Yada, yada, yada. 

I decide to make a break for it.

I go to the door to try to coax Dad to go for a walk.

Outside the door is an angel.

She says "do you have company?"

I say "yes, Mr. M."

She  says "Oh thank God, we have been

 looking everywhere for him."

I tell him they are looking for him

so he can have his medicine.

He says "Oh I thought this was my apartment!"

I told Mom "I was beginning to think 

we would have to wait until you went to dinner 

to get him out of here."

She said "I had no idea 

that he didn't know it wasn't his apartment."

Then we both busted a gut laughing.

They went to dinner and

 I came home to medicate myself

with broccoli and cauliflower.

Dern, times like this...I miss cake.

For those of you too young or those of you who have no memory

I give you...

Mr. Short-term Memory