Back to Pennsylvania Tomorrow

I fly back to Philadelphia tomorrow morning. There are some business things that I need to handle for my father–I have his power of attorney–that have to be done during normal business hours, so I’m out of here tomorrow at 9:15, which means that the dogs have to be boarded again. With my friend Chris’ help, we will take them to the boarding place in the morning, and then he will drop me at the airport. Susan and I will then drive back on Sunday.

My father continues to improve. At this point, he’s out of danger. Even the neurologist, who’s used to seeing this sort of thing all the time, has been terribly impressed by his progress. He sat up in a chair for a couple of hours yesterday, and was able to feed himself all three meals, albeit with his left hand. He’s now able to raise his right arm over his head and to move his fingers. He’s also got some more range of motion in his leg. He still has trouble speaking, but he’s now able to string a few words together. He’s doing well enough that they will be moving him from the stroke unit to the rehab unit later today. The jury is still out on whether he will ever be able to come home, or whether he will have to be in a nursing home for the rest of his days, but considering that the stroke was just a week ago today, he really is doing extremely well, better than any of us could have hoped for.

Jennie, of the American Presidents blog, tagged me yesterday. Normally, I would be happy to oblige and play this silly game, but I just don’t have the time or inclination right at the moment due to circumstances, so I deleted her comments–callously placed in two places, right where I made the first two posts about my father’s illness–and left her a comment letting her know that I was declining the tag and declining to participate. I’m all for having fun, but there’s a right time and a right place, and putting these two comments in the least appropriate places possible really didn’t sit well with me. Jennie, maybe next time, you might read the posts where you’ve placed your tags and consider whether they’re appropriate. Please allow me to suggest that a post where I’ve just gotten done discussing my father’s near fatal stroke is neither the right time nor the right place for frivolous silliness.

Again, thanks to everyone for all of the many statements of support and good wishes. They mean the world to me.