"I'm so happy to be here with you"

This is what he says to me every night, after I've helped him get changed for sleep, teeth brushed, tucked into bed.

He is such a sweet, sweet man. He has lost so much of himself but not an ounce of his sweetness, and he lives his life every day as a sweet and grateful person.

Where's the honey, honey?

Grandpa was a little squirrel today. He raided the kitchen, bringing plums back to his room, tucked inside his Niagara Falls mug that syas "Grandpa" on it, put them alongside the used teabag, and hid it all in the sock drawer. He went into my office and shuffled through my papers, found something with his name on it (his prescription info from getting a flu shot) and took a stack back into his room. Then, Vince noticed the coffee pot moved to a different counter, and the honey jar that was next to it - no longer next to it.

Oh my. If he puts it where he usually puts things, that could make for a lot of sticky socks.

No, not there. Nor in the medicine cabinet. Nor between his blankets. Not in his shoe. Not in the drawer full of Depends. Hmm. We've found things in all those spots before.

later..... ah ha! In the guest bathroom, right next to the soap dispenser. Good thing no one thought it was soap!

Some guy with 3 boys

Grandpa came back from Eldercare, was dropped off at our front door by the Paratransit bus, and Vince greeted him at the door.

'Hi, Grandpa, how was your day?"

"Oh, it was fine, I had a nice bus ride."

"Did you do anything while you were gone?"

"Oh, not that I can recall."

"Really? You went to play games, do activites, have lunch, talk with people...."

"Oh?"

"Well, where did you just come from?"

"I came from a place where some guy lives with 3 boys."

"No, Grandpa," Vince said , laughing. "That's where you have arrived!"

Lovely visits from Ed (aged 89) and from Phil and Bev Bennett (ageless!) during early September!

He bit into a wrapped bar of soap

...probably thinking it was a candy bar...

He doesn't remember what he eats

Vince took Grandpa to the orientation BBQ at Ben's school, where Ben is now a junior. There was a feast, music, and a football game.

As they left to begin the drive home, Gpa thanked Vince for taking him, as he'd had such a good time. Vince then asked for details to try to describe this good time, such as what he'd had to eat.

G: "Meat".

V: What kind of meat?

G: Good meat.

V: Can you describe it?

G: Well, it was sliced meat.

V: Well, what kind of meat?

G: Well, I expect it was beef.

V: Did you have anything with it?

G: Potatoes.

V: Well Grandpa, you had a full meal of hamburger, with lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, potatoe salad. And watermelon and grapes. And a cookie.

G: Oh - and a COOKie?

V: So, what did you have?

G: Meat. Sliced meat.