Sunday, April 6, 2014

A Sunny Warm Sunday And Some More Packing

Naturally, the mornings are still cold and the nightly frost has hardened the surface of the remaining snow in our yard, but when the sun shines the snow is softening again and more of the white stuff turns into water. Of course, the ground remains frozen and all the water makes the upper layer of our lawn a swamp. Today temps got into the low forties, but we had a fresh westerly wind making it a rather cold affair to stay outside. Yet getting out of the wind, it felt quite comfortable.

I vacuumed the van and we remounted the 4th seat-bench into the van. Now we are back to a 15-seat minibus and ready for the summer season, which is still 7 weeks away.

Also did some more packing for the trail out west. Going through the house i try to imagine what to take and what not. I have taken a lot of music CDs and gathered the photo equipment.  There seems to be so much to remember. Luckily, I have done most of my errands, all there is left for tomorrow is getting 4 new tires for the JEEP and picking up some PR-material for the business.

I took a short afternoon trip to the Head Harbour Lightstation to get a few shots with the strong colours of a clear and windy day. It will be the last island tour for me for many months.
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I have never grown so fond of a place than this island and I will miss all this tremendously.

We also got some more sad news from Germany, as my Dad has now refused to eat anything for over a week. He is in a rehab facility and getting weaker every day. We had to make a decision whether we wanted to get him intravenous nutrition. Dad is not capable of making any conscious decision anymore, but we know that he principally refused any live extending measures, and after a long talk to my brother, our decision was against it. Previously, Dad has repeatedly said that he wanted to go, that his time was up. He has felt it for a long time now. Yet, it is a very heart-breaking decision to make, that fills us with so much sorrow. It is the realization that we are saying Good Bye for ever, and that we have to live the rest of our lives without our parents. The presence of our parents have made up the frame for our lives, and all-of-a-sudden the frame breaks apart. It also makes us realize that we now are closer to growing old ourselves. We can look back and there are all the good memories we have. Well, I know not everyone has all good memories, but memories they are, and it will be all we have left.

Thanks for being here again.

7 comments:

  1. I'm so sorry you are having to go through this with your father. I lost my parents many years ago and I still miss them today. They will always be inside us as long as we live. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

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  2. It wasn't that long ago that I went through the same thing with my Dad so I sure know the pain you are going through.

    How long are you going to be in Alberta for ??

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  3. Sorry your Dad;s not doing well from so far away.My Dad died here in the states when I was stationed in Helmstedt,Germany.

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  4. Sorry to here about your Dad its is such a tough time, but you have all the memories. Travel safe heading back out west.

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  5. I am so sorry to hear about your Dad's decline. As I mentioned while we were chatting at the Hot Springs, my sisters and myself had to make that same tough decision regarding my father. It was very difficult at the time, but one which we have never regretted. I am sure it was what your father would want you to do.

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  6. It's so sad when our parents get to this point, but I have to say, Peter, we are lucky to still have our parents. So many people lose them early in their lives, and we've had many more years with them. That's a hard decision to make, knowing what the outcome will be, but it really wasn't your decision. You and your brother just relayed your father's wishes, and you had to do that. My thoughts are with you all.

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  7. Wishing you safe travels as you head west. Just posted on Bea's blog. Looking forward to reading about her upcoming adventures, too. So sorry about your dad's condition. We've gone thru that and it is not fun. One day those memories will bring you lots of smiles and even a chuckle or two! Blessings to all!!!
    Connie and Barry in PA

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