My father has always represented stability and strength to me. Although he's had his share of health issues over the years, this is different. His grit and sheer determination which has served him well up to this point (for the most part) isn't working anymore and his ability to control his situation is limited. Several weeks ago while visiting on the phone all of the sudden he said "Oh no! Oh no! Oh no!" in a very, very scared voice. I've never heard him sound like this before. Within a few seconds he recovered and told me he almost fell over. He's lost feeling in both legs up to his knees due to peripheral neuropathy so even driving isn't much of an option for him now. In that moment his fragility hit me like a ton of bricks.
I want to help my father and encourage him through this last season of his life however long this lasts, but today I'm twisted up with frustration, disappointment, and grief from a painful conversation with him on a call yesterday. It's still got my insides tangled in a few knots even though I've untangled the biggest ones.
This afternoon I ran to the grocery store for a quick purchase and was stopped instantly by a display chock full of pink Valentine's Day Beanie Babies. I looked at the display and almost burst into tears. Something about all these sweet, big beady-eyed creatures staring back at me sent me a huge "You are loved....so very, very loved" message and these two little things ended up coming home with me. The one on the right reminds me that sometimes we all act like Monsters (he's from the Monstaz collection) but inside we are special and the guy on the left just said, "please take me home." (I even went back for him after I grabbed everything off my list).
I'm going to visit my parents next week for a few days. It's an important trip, but it also makes me quite anxious. I've decided these two little guys are going with me to remind me of my love for my parents and that I do love them (even when they act less than lovely) and that I'm pretty special, too.
As I write this post they are now sitting beside my keyboard. I'm really glad I bought them and brought them home.
