Que Sera Sera

So much for the simple life I envisioned for myself at the beginning of the year. The first few weeks of 2012 have been anything but simple. On January 3rd and 4th I began the process of making a sourdough starter...poor little thing has been in and out of the fridge so many times its head is spinning. I am hoping one day I will be able to bring it to its full level of sparkle and use it to make bread, but it needs consistent feeding and I have not been around to do it. Feeding and caring for my dad is ten thousand times more important than bread.

In the past two and a half weeks my dad has been moved to four different hospitals/facilities and we are about to move him again. I have been there to make the decisions with my mom and siblings and paperwork etc. My dad has advanced prostate cancer that has gone to his bones along with pretty severe aortic stenosis. All of this recent 'stuff' resulted from an infection that went undetected and sent him into delirium. We treated the delirium and then he got all messed up from the drugs. Oy vey!!!

The good news is that he is on the mend and a hundred percent better than he was just a week ago. He is one of the kindest, gentlest most wonderful dad's EVER.

Here he is as a toddler. He grew up during the depression and
they did not have much money. 

Dad lied about his age and joined the navy when he was 17.
He then found out he got seasick and held a job on land until the end of the war.

Home on leave with his sister Hermaline (quite a name).
We just found out after all these years that he called her
Eme (long e sound on both)
and she called him Daudy (like the word dog minus the g and add the dy).
My Auntie Herm is still alive and doing well at 87.

Here he is with his mom who lived to be 91. This is the dining room of my childhood home.
Love the bottle of Lancers on the table.

This is his sister Ruth who was quite an athlete and LOVED basketball.
Soon after this photo she joined the convent. She taught school and remained in the convent for 25 years.

Aunt Ruth and my grandpa on the day of her invocation to the convent. She is quite a beauty.

Here she is as a nun. That is our country squire and my little sister Patti. To the right of Aunt Ruth is my cousin Ruthie who is Hermaline's daughter. Sadly we lost her last year at the age of 56 from brain cancer.
Aunt Ruth passed away 3 years ago at the age of 85. She was driving to a vacation home with her 'boyfriend' and crossed the center line and hit a school bus. 

Mom and dad newly engaged. She is 19 and he is 24.

Dancing with me at my wedding in 1979.

My dad's short term memory has really been affected by all he has gone through in recent years. But his long term memory is sharp as a whip. He remembers everything! And it is fun to gather with my siblings and reminisce with him. Some days it is the only thing to take his mind off the pain and confusion and bring him around again. He still has his great sense of humor and is even smiling again. Last week we could not even get a smile out of him. His favorite sayings were "This is a real ball buster" and "What am I/we going to do".

Last night he said, "Que sera sera" and how he loves that song. So I dedicate this to him and to the hopes and prayers that he is on his way to feeling better.