Dad was reminiscing about previous hunting trips while we were at the cabin the other day. He told me a story about hunting with two of his cousins and the results of that trip.
Wilburn Kirkland and Jack Kirkland were notorious for gambling against each other about miscellaneous things. While they were hunting together they spotted a big buck that was a very long distance from them. (Dad guesses about 500 yards) Jack bet Wilburn that he couldn't get the deer. Wilburn said, "Oh I can get him for sure!" Jack told him that he would clean the deer and process it if Wilburn could make the kill. Wilburn accepted. He lined up his shot and squeezed off a round. Just as he shot, the deer turned to walk away from him. By the time the bullet got there, it hit the buck right in the butt! The buck went down and Wilburn had made the kill. True to his word, Jack cleaned the deer and took it home for processing.
Months go by and Wilburn received a gift from Jack. He had the butt of that buck mounted with the bullet hole in the butt intact. Wilburn still has it hanging on his wall despite his wife Betty's objections.
The unofficial biography and anecdotes of tomjtexas. Stories are in random order and posted as I can remember them. He passed away on January 17th 2013.
former HEALTH UPDATES are here!
(scroll to the bottom as they are in chronological order)Archived updates are
here
Reunion Benefits
This year the Kirkland family reunion was beneficial for Dad. I think he's realizing that he has got to do more for himself and quit relying on everyone else all the time to do every little thing for him. He saw that his brother Richard is doing way better because he's making the effort to do more things for himself.
Dad had a couple of rough nights up there but for the most part, I saw improvement from him. He didn't sit on his ass and wait for someone to make his plate during meals. He obviously enjoyed playing cards with the guys too.
This morning he got up acting very chipper and excited. If he plans to go hunting this winter, he's going to need to improve his dexterity and get some exercise. He hasn't been able to do much in the hundred degree weather but now that it's beginning to cool off, maybe I can get him interested in doing some things to get him active again.
Dad had a couple of rough nights up there but for the most part, I saw improvement from him. He didn't sit on his ass and wait for someone to make his plate during meals. He obviously enjoyed playing cards with the guys too.
This morning he got up acting very chipper and excited. If he plans to go hunting this winter, he's going to need to improve his dexterity and get some exercise. He hasn't been able to do much in the hundred degree weather but now that it's beginning to cool off, maybe I can get him interested in doing some things to get him active again.
The Answers
Today I'm wondering what's next? The adventure of taking care of an elderly person grows daily. I don't have formal training or anything, I'm doing it by the seat of my pants, with lots of help from my sister and mother.
Last night Dad got dizzy and fell in the bathroom. He cut his hand, wrist and bicep apparently on the corner of the cabinet. He passed out and nobody knew it happened for a while. He wasn't drunk, he hasn't changed medications yet so I don't know what the hell happened.
The doctor sent him new medications yesterday but he hasn't switched yet. At this point, he has so many different inhalers and meds that I don't know exactly what he is supposed to stop taking to begin his regimen of new stuff. I won't be able to contact his doctor until Monday.
Whenever there's an emergency, they all run to me..like I'm an authority or something. Guess what..I don't have all the answers either! I may seem calm but I'm freaking out too. I get angry in frustration when he gets hurt and Dad always thinks I'm mad at him. During a crisis, I do get angry..that's how I get focused immediately. I'm angry at the situation, not the people involved.
Last night Dad got dizzy and fell in the bathroom. He cut his hand, wrist and bicep apparently on the corner of the cabinet. He passed out and nobody knew it happened for a while. He wasn't drunk, he hasn't changed medications yet so I don't know what the hell happened.
The doctor sent him new medications yesterday but he hasn't switched yet. At this point, he has so many different inhalers and meds that I don't know exactly what he is supposed to stop taking to begin his regimen of new stuff. I won't be able to contact his doctor until Monday.
Whenever there's an emergency, they all run to me..like I'm an authority or something. Guess what..I don't have all the answers either! I may seem calm but I'm freaking out too. I get angry in frustration when he gets hurt and Dad always thinks I'm mad at him. During a crisis, I do get angry..that's how I get focused immediately. I'm angry at the situation, not the people involved.
Wear a Brain Bucket!
In the late 1970's my Dad worked hard and we played hard too. He had a rail dune buggy that had won the Baja 1000 race. We had multiple motorcycles and he had some 3 wheeled vehicles that had 70 HP Kohler motors on them. We went riding/driving every weekend.
The 3 wheelers weren't really made for off road use. I've never seen anything like them before or since but they were very fast! They had a bucket seat and you sat in front of the big motor. On pavement, if you didn't spin the tires, they would easily beat our motorcycles. Dad loved those vehicles!
We were out at Miller Springs (just below the Belton Dam) and Dad was on his 3 wheeler and I was following him around on my motorcycle. He decided to take off at a high rate of speed and go flying across a wide open area. The grass was tall so you couldn't see obstacles that you came upon until it was too late. We had been punishing his 3 wheeler climbing hills and riding over rocky areas. So we're zooming across this prairie at about 50 mph and I'm right on his tail. Suddenly I can only see a dust cloud in front of me and nail the brakes. The wind carries away some of the dust and I see Dad is upside down still strapped into the 3 wheeler. I ran over to help him and find that he's OK. I got him unstrapped and he climbed out from under the beast, his helmet was scratched almost all the way through. I asked what happened and he had no idea, there was nothing around that he could have hit to make him wreck. Upon further inspection, the 3 wheeler frame had broken and it had fell and planted into the ground catapulting him upside down and sliding through dirt and gravel. If he had not been wearing a helmet..it would have scratched the top of his head completely off.
After seeing that crash, I never even drove the dune buggy without a helmet. It pays to wear safety equipment! More riding/racing stories to come...
The 3 wheelers weren't really made for off road use. I've never seen anything like them before or since but they were very fast! They had a bucket seat and you sat in front of the big motor. On pavement, if you didn't spin the tires, they would easily beat our motorcycles. Dad loved those vehicles!
We were out at Miller Springs (just below the Belton Dam) and Dad was on his 3 wheeler and I was following him around on my motorcycle. He decided to take off at a high rate of speed and go flying across a wide open area. The grass was tall so you couldn't see obstacles that you came upon until it was too late. We had been punishing his 3 wheeler climbing hills and riding over rocky areas. So we're zooming across this prairie at about 50 mph and I'm right on his tail. Suddenly I can only see a dust cloud in front of me and nail the brakes. The wind carries away some of the dust and I see Dad is upside down still strapped into the 3 wheeler. I ran over to help him and find that he's OK. I got him unstrapped and he climbed out from under the beast, his helmet was scratched almost all the way through. I asked what happened and he had no idea, there was nothing around that he could have hit to make him wreck. Upon further inspection, the 3 wheeler frame had broken and it had fell and planted into the ground catapulting him upside down and sliding through dirt and gravel. If he had not been wearing a helmet..it would have scratched the top of his head completely off.
After seeing that crash, I never even drove the dune buggy without a helmet. It pays to wear safety equipment! More riding/racing stories to come...
Tough Times
Most know that Dad hasn't been doing very well for quite some time now. He has avoided making a will and getting his affairs in order like the plague. This week he decided it's time...I'm hoping that his sudden sense of urgency on this isn't a sign that he's ready to give up. Hopefully, he just finally decided that it would be smarter to have that stuff ready in case something goes awry.
He's been down in the dumps lately because the heat has prevented him from doing much outside. He hates being cooped up! I'm sure that his next project is going to be to see how many people he can get to go to the family reunion in September. Several years have passed since he truly believed that it would be his last reunion. He just keeps hanging in there! The joy that he gets from attending that event and hunting season is his driving force.
I'm lucky to still have both parents and thankful for that. It's been gratifying to see our family pull together to protect and help each other. I plan to post more of the fun stories including Mom and Becky. Check back because I'm trying not to inundate my friends with all my blog posts.
He's been down in the dumps lately because the heat has prevented him from doing much outside. He hates being cooped up! I'm sure that his next project is going to be to see how many people he can get to go to the family reunion in September. Several years have passed since he truly believed that it would be his last reunion. He just keeps hanging in there! The joy that he gets from attending that event and hunting season is his driving force.
I'm lucky to still have both parents and thankful for that. It's been gratifying to see our family pull together to protect and help each other. I plan to post more of the fun stories including Mom and Becky. Check back because I'm trying not to inundate my friends with all my blog posts.
Flyfishing
In December of 1978, Tom's friends took him flyfishing on the Colorado River down by Lampasas Texas. He had a good time but he came home and planned with me for a week of how we could do it better. He bought an automatic reel that would retract the line when there wasn't tension on the line. We worked hard to figure out ways for him to be as effective as the other guys with both hands.
The following weekend we were ready and went back. The white bass were starting their trip up the river to spawn and he planned to catch as many as possible. They do this in December and January of each year. After dark, we went wading into the river and looked into the water with a flashlight, the riverbed was literally covered with white bass.
The next day we hit the river with waders and fly rods. Dad and I had rigged up a way to use two flys at a time on leaders. Every time we would cast we caught at least one bass. If you waited for a few seconds after the first hit, we were bringing in two at a time. We had stringers tied to our waist and every couple of hours we would have to go back to shore to empty the stringers.
At the time Dad was driving a big dually pickup. At the end of two days fishing we had the back of the pickup level full with fish and ice. One of Dad's friend's that was with us owned the Hunan Restaurant in Temple. We went back to Temple and his cooks cleaned fish all night long. His freezer was well stocked with fish from just two weekends of fishing. I've never seen anyone catch that many fish before or since. One of a kind fishing trip! If I hadn't been there, I would have never believed it. Just ask him, he loves to talk about it!
The following weekend we were ready and went back. The white bass were starting their trip up the river to spawn and he planned to catch as many as possible. They do this in December and January of each year. After dark, we went wading into the river and looked into the water with a flashlight, the riverbed was literally covered with white bass.
The next day we hit the river with waders and fly rods. Dad and I had rigged up a way to use two flys at a time on leaders. Every time we would cast we caught at least one bass. If you waited for a few seconds after the first hit, we were bringing in two at a time. We had stringers tied to our waist and every couple of hours we would have to go back to shore to empty the stringers.
At the time Dad was driving a big dually pickup. At the end of two days fishing we had the back of the pickup level full with fish and ice. One of Dad's friend's that was with us owned the Hunan Restaurant in Temple. We went back to Temple and his cooks cleaned fish all night long. His freezer was well stocked with fish from just two weekends of fishing. I've never seen anyone catch that many fish before or since. One of a kind fishing trip! If I hadn't been there, I would have never believed it. Just ask him, he loves to talk about it!
Changes to his site
I'm going to archive some of his health updates onto another page so visitors don't have to scroll down so far to read his current health status. I want to keep all the posts as a record of how his health has been for myself and his doctor.
I'll be posting a few more comical stories about him this weekend too. Stay tuned!
I'll be posting a few more comical stories about him this weekend too. Stay tuned!
Limits? No way!
Probably everyone who reads this blog knows that Tom has his left arm amputated right below the shoulder. If you never thought about it before, just try doing everything for a day using only one hand. Simple things can be a challenge when you think about it.
Try a few of these: (he's done all of them!)
Tie your shoes
Button your sleeve
Wash your forearm
Hang wallpaper
Plaster walls
Dad got quite prolific at using his prosthetic arm. He is very inventive and solved ways to do almost anything using his hook. To ride a motorcycle we would just switch the clutch and front brake cables and he was gone! He could even solder electronic parts. He enjoyed playing golf, fly fishing, shooting skeet/trap, etc. Lots of stuff that would be a challenge to someone with both arms. His problem solving abilities are keen.
A few years ago, he tripped during the night and fell. He crushed his left shoulder socket and hasn't been able to wear his prosthetic arm hardly at all since. That was a huge loss to his abilities. He needs lots of help now.
The other day, he asked Becky for some peanut butter and crackers. She grabbed the jar and a sleeve of crackers and put them on the table and walked off. Dad sat there for a bit and Becky came back into the kitchen and asked why he wasn't eating the PB and crackers. He said, I want you to sit down here and show me how to spread peanut butter on crackers with one hand. People just don't realize that he has a disability. If he CAN do it, he will.
Since I was a little kid, Dad would always ask me to help him hold something or assist in something he was doing. I've been his "missing arm" for a good portion of my life. I'm happy to be able to help. The thing is...he's helped me more throughout my life than I could ever pay back by helping him. It's great that my Mom and sister help now too. I would've never guessed that we would all be living and trying to get by...together! Team work, we got this!
Try a few of these: (he's done all of them!)
Tie your shoes
Button your sleeve
Wash your forearm
Hang wallpaper
Plaster walls
Dad got quite prolific at using his prosthetic arm. He is very inventive and solved ways to do almost anything using his hook. To ride a motorcycle we would just switch the clutch and front brake cables and he was gone! He could even solder electronic parts. He enjoyed playing golf, fly fishing, shooting skeet/trap, etc. Lots of stuff that would be a challenge to someone with both arms. His problem solving abilities are keen.
A few years ago, he tripped during the night and fell. He crushed his left shoulder socket and hasn't been able to wear his prosthetic arm hardly at all since. That was a huge loss to his abilities. He needs lots of help now.
The other day, he asked Becky for some peanut butter and crackers. She grabbed the jar and a sleeve of crackers and put them on the table and walked off. Dad sat there for a bit and Becky came back into the kitchen and asked why he wasn't eating the PB and crackers. He said, I want you to sit down here and show me how to spread peanut butter on crackers with one hand. People just don't realize that he has a disability. If he CAN do it, he will.
Since I was a little kid, Dad would always ask me to help him hold something or assist in something he was doing. I've been his "missing arm" for a good portion of my life. I'm happy to be able to help. The thing is...he's helped me more throughout my life than I could ever pay back by helping him. It's great that my Mom and sister help now too. I would've never guessed that we would all be living and trying to get by...together! Team work, we got this!
Close call
Back when I was about 6 years old, Dad borrowed an old pickup from a friend to haul some stuff. The old pickup had a big rip in the seat, it was a manual transmission (3 on the tree) and the passenger door didn't stay latched shut. As you can imagine, a guy with one arm has a heck of a time shifting and steering at the same time. Back then, I stood up in the seat so I could see what was going on.
We were driving through Nokomis and Dad came to a slight curve in front of Doc Spracklen's house. He was going a little too fast and as he hit the curve, he downshifted. It threw me off balance and when he grabbed the steering wheel after shifting, he jerked the truck to the left...sending me into the passenger door. It popped open and I grabbed for anything I could reach. My left hand caught the rip in the seat and my right grabbed on to the door handle. My feet were dangling out the door and every few feet they would touch the ground as I tried to keep my feet moving as fast as I could so as not to be pulled under the truck. Dad reached across and pulled my left wrist until he brought the truck to a stop. Even after the truck stopped I could just barely reach the ground. My ribs were sore from Dad trying to pull me back into the truck over the edge of the seat.
After I was able to climb back into the truck, I slammed the door shut a couple of times until it latched again. I turned around to tell Dad thanks, that's the first time I ever saw my Dad visibly shaking. I've never forgotten that beat up old green 50's model pickup nor the fact that Dad did not let me fall. We laughed about it later but it scared both of us pretty bad when it happened.
Lessons learned?? It's the first time I had realized that having only one arm was a hindrance of any kind. He couldn't steer while he held on to me...but he damn sure didn't let go!
We were driving through Nokomis and Dad came to a slight curve in front of Doc Spracklen's house. He was going a little too fast and as he hit the curve, he downshifted. It threw me off balance and when he grabbed the steering wheel after shifting, he jerked the truck to the left...sending me into the passenger door. It popped open and I grabbed for anything I could reach. My left hand caught the rip in the seat and my right grabbed on to the door handle. My feet were dangling out the door and every few feet they would touch the ground as I tried to keep my feet moving as fast as I could so as not to be pulled under the truck. Dad reached across and pulled my left wrist until he brought the truck to a stop. Even after the truck stopped I could just barely reach the ground. My ribs were sore from Dad trying to pull me back into the truck over the edge of the seat.
After I was able to climb back into the truck, I slammed the door shut a couple of times until it latched again. I turned around to tell Dad thanks, that's the first time I ever saw my Dad visibly shaking. I've never forgotten that beat up old green 50's model pickup nor the fact that Dad did not let me fall. We laughed about it later but it scared both of us pretty bad when it happened.
Lessons learned?? It's the first time I had realized that having only one arm was a hindrance of any kind. He couldn't steer while he held on to me...but he damn sure didn't let go!
Tom's attitude now
Last week Dad and I went shopping. I drop him off at the door and he jumps on one of their little motorized carts as usual. I go and find a place to park and he drives inside.
I get inside the store and see that Dad is racing around all over the produce area looking at all the produce. Those of you that know how Dad drives should be familiar with how he drives a scooter too...full speed or full stop. He goes from whatever he's looking for to the next item on his list as fast as his cart will take him. He never looks to see if there are little kids he may run over..he just goes like hell. Granted, they don't go that fast, but he doesn't even slow down going around to another aisle.
Everywhere I go with a shopping basket, he stops right beside me so nobody else can get down the aisle. He can't hardly hear anymore either..which is annoying because he can't hear the beep of his scooter when he is holding the button to go in reverse. He spent an hour driving me absolutely insane in the grocery store. He doesn't understand why I can't stand to go shopping with him...but if he could see and hear everything that I see he would understand perfectly. I heard a latino woman telling her kids to watch out for that "crazy bald man" driving like an idiot.
I sincerely hope that he doesn't hurt some little kid because he has absolutely no patience anymore. I'll probably be bald too because he's making me pull my hair out!
I get inside the store and see that Dad is racing around all over the produce area looking at all the produce. Those of you that know how Dad drives should be familiar with how he drives a scooter too...full speed or full stop. He goes from whatever he's looking for to the next item on his list as fast as his cart will take him. He never looks to see if there are little kids he may run over..he just goes like hell. Granted, they don't go that fast, but he doesn't even slow down going around to another aisle.
Everywhere I go with a shopping basket, he stops right beside me so nobody else can get down the aisle. He can't hardly hear anymore either..which is annoying because he can't hear the beep of his scooter when he is holding the button to go in reverse. He spent an hour driving me absolutely insane in the grocery store. He doesn't understand why I can't stand to go shopping with him...but if he could see and hear everything that I see he would understand perfectly. I heard a latino woman telling her kids to watch out for that "crazy bald man" driving like an idiot.
I sincerely hope that he doesn't hurt some little kid because he has absolutely no patience anymore. I'll probably be bald too because he's making me pull my hair out!
Old Age Observations
Life has got to be tough when you are 77 years old. Luckily, Dad's mind is still very sharp. Until about 3 years ago, Dad was still acting normal...for him anyway. He ran around at full speed everywhere he went and everything he did.
He has slowed down now in his gait and comprehension. Don't get me wrong, he's still very sharp. He's just gotten very impatient and walks like an old man now. There is still the fire burning to do things that he shouldn't attempt anymore. He gets focused on something and has no capacity to let it go. Dad has no tolerance for procrastination. Get it done and get it done NOW!
Sometimes the impatience drives me nuts. I do understand the urgency though when any day could be your last. The little things that have his focus become major obstacles if I'm not around to make it happen. It makes it difficult to go and do jobs when he's worried about something like his garden. Yeah, I cater to my father to appease his whims because he's been a great Dad.
In the twilight of life, people get panicky. They require attention, care and respect. Their opinions matter because it's founded on a long life of experience. So if you see someone who is old and having a hard time accomplishing a task...just know that they deserve your respect and they deserve help. They earned it!
He has slowed down now in his gait and comprehension. Don't get me wrong, he's still very sharp. He's just gotten very impatient and walks like an old man now. There is still the fire burning to do things that he shouldn't attempt anymore. He gets focused on something and has no capacity to let it go. Dad has no tolerance for procrastination. Get it done and get it done NOW!
Sometimes the impatience drives me nuts. I do understand the urgency though when any day could be your last. The little things that have his focus become major obstacles if I'm not around to make it happen. It makes it difficult to go and do jobs when he's worried about something like his garden. Yeah, I cater to my father to appease his whims because he's been a great Dad.
In the twilight of life, people get panicky. They require attention, care and respect. Their opinions matter because it's founded on a long life of experience. So if you see someone who is old and having a hard time accomplishing a task...just know that they deserve your respect and they deserve help. They earned it!
Watching and Waiting
My friend Robert Richardson is a heck of a nice guy. He lets Dad and I hunt on his property right from the upstairs room of his cabin. This way, all Dad has to do is get up out of bed and open the window in order to hunt. The cabin overlooks a hillside with a clearing at the bottom. The deer cross there every morning and evening. It's a perfect setup for Dad. As long as I help fix the cabin up, we have been able to hunt there each year for free. Pretty darned cool of Robert.
Early during deer season this last year, Dad would sit and watch patiently out the window. We had killed one deer and I butchered it and dragged off the remaining carcass...head and legs basically. The buzzards were having a field day on the remains. Dad always calls buzzards "Mexican eagles"
Dad is sitting there in the afternoon waiting for another buck to come strolling leisurely across his line of sight. A big buzzard flies up and lands right outside the window and stands in the tree about 15 feet from the cabin, right at eye level. Dad tries to shoo him away, but the buzzard is persistent. He just stands there staring at Dad....and staring....and staring! After about an hour of him staring in the window, Dad decided to throw a beer can at him. He still didn't budge. So Dad called downstairs to me and said, "Next time we come...we're bringing a .22 so that Mexican eagle doesn't make me feel like I'm about to die!"
Early during deer season this last year, Dad would sit and watch patiently out the window. We had killed one deer and I butchered it and dragged off the remaining carcass...head and legs basically. The buzzards were having a field day on the remains. Dad always calls buzzards "Mexican eagles"
Dad is sitting there in the afternoon waiting for another buck to come strolling leisurely across his line of sight. A big buzzard flies up and lands right outside the window and stands in the tree about 15 feet from the cabin, right at eye level. Dad tries to shoo him away, but the buzzard is persistent. He just stands there staring at Dad....and staring....and staring! After about an hour of him staring in the window, Dad decided to throw a beer can at him. He still didn't budge. So Dad called downstairs to me and said, "Next time we come...we're bringing a .22 so that Mexican eagle doesn't make me feel like I'm about to die!"
Songwriter Tom
Our family sat around the kitchen table talking about old times when my Mom brought up Dad's songs. She said that when they would travel back and forth from Texas-Illinois, he would make up outrageous songs. Dad chimed right into the conversation by singing some of his little tunes. I can't repeat any of them..but I can tell you they are quite funny. If you get the chance, ask my mother about it...or better yet, ask Dad to sing you one! While we were installing floors Dad would suddenly start singing a song that sounded good, but you never knew what kind of lyrics he was dreaming up as he sang along. It was always entertaining working with Dad.
Dad had a natural talent for whistling too. I've only heard one other guy who could whistle anything like Tom. While he was in the Navy, he frequented a club where people would get up on stage and whistle tunes. I wish I had been around to see that! While playing pool he would whistle like a bird just to annoy the other players. It usually worked to his advantage too. If you ever heard it, you would definitely remember it. I've tried and tried to learn to imitate that whistle but could never duplicate it. He added a reverb that is hard to describe. He can't really do it anymore because of the COPD, but I'll never forget it. Good times and good memories!
Dad had a natural talent for whistling too. I've only heard one other guy who could whistle anything like Tom. While he was in the Navy, he frequented a club where people would get up on stage and whistle tunes. I wish I had been around to see that! While playing pool he would whistle like a bird just to annoy the other players. It usually worked to his advantage too. If you ever heard it, you would definitely remember it. I've tried and tried to learn to imitate that whistle but could never duplicate it. He added a reverb that is hard to describe. He can't really do it anymore because of the COPD, but I'll never forget it. Good times and good memories!
Dad during my navy days and beyond
When I joined the Navy my Dad supported me and was glad for me to go and see the world. Most of my adult life, I've probably been his closest friend.
After boot camp, I went to school in Pensacola Florida. I had become a section leader at school and had things pretty easy so Dad made the trip to Florida just to visit me and some of my friends. We got to get away for 2 days and we went all the way to Biloxi Mississippi and worked our way back going from casino to casino. We lost until we got nearly back to Pensacola and he suggested we try just one more casino. We ended up playing blackjack until we had our pockets full! He stayed on the base for a week and I got to see him daily except for duty days.
While I was stationed in Norfolk (really Oceana) he would call me almost every night. Just wondering how school was going and checking up on me. Then it was on to Japan...
After I got settled in and saved for awhile, I bought a computer. We used Yahoo messenger to communicate nightly. Dad would wait up half the night just to get to talk to me for 15-20 minutes. I discovered a new program called Dialpad. I could use my computer with a headset to make free calls back to the states. As you can guess..I talked to him as often as possible.
When my time was up for serving the country...my command didn't want to let me leave. They tried to negate our contract. I explained that Dad was in poor health and I was needed back home, they didn't believe me so I needed proof from a doctor. Dad went and talked to the doctor and he wrote a letter to my commanding officer telling them that Dad was terminally ill and I should return home. They sent me home in less than 2 weeks. I arrived back home in October of 2000. After hearing he was terminally ill, I was just mortified..dreading facing him..but dying to give him a big hug.
It's been more than 10 years and I've done my best to see that he's been comfortable, happy and enjoying life. I'm hoping for another 10 years at least. I don't believe that being told you are terminally ill means that you should just start dying...Dad didn't! He's fought tooth and nail and he never told anyone but me that news. He's counted on me and I do the same with him..it's like a partnership and neither one wants to let the other one down.
Tomjtexas is my father and I'm damn proud of it! Everyone who tells me to get a life...walk a mile in my shoes before you judge my choices in life. I'm needed and I'm here!
After boot camp, I went to school in Pensacola Florida. I had become a section leader at school and had things pretty easy so Dad made the trip to Florida just to visit me and some of my friends. We got to get away for 2 days and we went all the way to Biloxi Mississippi and worked our way back going from casino to casino. We lost until we got nearly back to Pensacola and he suggested we try just one more casino. We ended up playing blackjack until we had our pockets full! He stayed on the base for a week and I got to see him daily except for duty days.
While I was stationed in Norfolk (really Oceana) he would call me almost every night. Just wondering how school was going and checking up on me. Then it was on to Japan...
After I got settled in and saved for awhile, I bought a computer. We used Yahoo messenger to communicate nightly. Dad would wait up half the night just to get to talk to me for 15-20 minutes. I discovered a new program called Dialpad. I could use my computer with a headset to make free calls back to the states. As you can guess..I talked to him as often as possible.
When my time was up for serving the country...my command didn't want to let me leave. They tried to negate our contract. I explained that Dad was in poor health and I was needed back home, they didn't believe me so I needed proof from a doctor. Dad went and talked to the doctor and he wrote a letter to my commanding officer telling them that Dad was terminally ill and I should return home. They sent me home in less than 2 weeks. I arrived back home in October of 2000. After hearing he was terminally ill, I was just mortified..dreading facing him..but dying to give him a big hug.
It's been more than 10 years and I've done my best to see that he's been comfortable, happy and enjoying life. I'm hoping for another 10 years at least. I don't believe that being told you are terminally ill means that you should just start dying...Dad didn't! He's fought tooth and nail and he never told anyone but me that news. He's counted on me and I do the same with him..it's like a partnership and neither one wants to let the other one down.
Tomjtexas is my father and I'm damn proud of it! Everyone who tells me to get a life...walk a mile in my shoes before you judge my choices in life. I'm needed and I'm here!
Eyes on the prize
I haven't had time to share anymore stories about Tom lately, he's been in pretty bad shape. Since the broken bones..he's been pretty miserable. Scroll on down to read about happier times. There are plenty of stories to read so check out his whole blog.
Today we go back to the doctor and find out if Papasan may have broken more bones. This time, it seems to be on the opposite side from where he fell. He's having painful spells where it literally takes all of his breath away. He's had two very bad nights and hopefully the doc can give him some relief. Even with pain killers he's only sleeping for an hour or so at a time.
*UPDATE* We are heading to the Michael Debakey Medical Center. They are admitting him to the hospital. If I can get internet, I'll keep everyone posted!
The good news is, it's time to start getting him excited about a garden because we cannot make the trip to Illinois for mushroom season this year. There isn't much that gets him more excited than trying to have the first home grown tomatoes every year. Gotta set goals! I'm planning to document the entire process for him this year on his blog. Stay tuned, more stories to come....
Today we go back to the doctor and find out if Papasan may have broken more bones. This time, it seems to be on the opposite side from where he fell. He's having painful spells where it literally takes all of his breath away. He's had two very bad nights and hopefully the doc can give him some relief. Even with pain killers he's only sleeping for an hour or so at a time.
*UPDATE* We are heading to the Michael Debakey Medical Center. They are admitting him to the hospital. If I can get internet, I'll keep everyone posted!
The good news is, it's time to start getting him excited about a garden because we cannot make the trip to Illinois for mushroom season this year. There isn't much that gets him more excited than trying to have the first home grown tomatoes every year. Gotta set goals! I'm planning to document the entire process for him this year on his blog. Stay tuned, more stories to come....
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