Leaving the office tonight I called home (we still can’t find his cell phone—I should just cancel that number) and he didn’t answer. I called home 5 times and each time it went to voice mail. So I swung by the house on the way to church, hoping he had walked to the church a few blocks away.
My headlights illuminated the driveway and I noticed the Honda was gone.
The Honda—old, decrepit, and we need to sell it. It isn’t registered, isn’t insured, and isn’t inspected. It’s completely illegal.
Did I mention I took his driver’s license away from him after the last time he got lost?
Somehow, somewhere, he’s found a key to that car and gone somewhere.
In the past, I would panic. I’d fret, I’d pace the floor, I’d rant, and possibly call a friend for support. Not this time.
I drove straight to church, hoping to find the Honda in the parking lot. It wasn’t there. So what did I do?
I went to Mass. It was lovely, as it always is on Wednesday nights. Father asked me to lead the singing when the Blessed Sacrament was exposed, and even though I’m still hoarse from an unending upper respiratory infection, I did.
The peace and silence of adoration is indescribable if you aren’t Catholic and haven’t experienced it. The beauty of solitude is healing. I prayed for Bill’s safe return, and prayed that I would be able to handle whatever came along.
I returned home about 8:00 and the Honda was in the driveway. I went into the house and saw Bill and calmly asked him where he had gone. He didn’t answer at first—he said he was on his way to church. I pointed out that he was late for class, and wondered where he was when I came by earlier. He didn’t seem to know, or didn’t want to answer. Then he said he had taken his computer to Best Buy to get it fixed, because it didn’t work.
What followed could have escalated. He ran out to the car and said he was driving to church because he was tired of me “keeping him a prisoner” in the house. I calmly explained that he got lost (which he denied) and that the car was not registered, inspected or insured, and therefore illegal to drive. He got in the car, and I stood in front of it. Once in the car, he couldn’t find the keys. Looking around the car, he couldn’t find the keys anywhere. He got out, and was getting agitated. I told him I’d take him to church, but he had to go back and get his book.
Once inside I asked him where the computer was. He didn’t know. He found his book, and then ran back to the Honda to look for the computer. It wasn’t there. I suggested he had left it at Best Buy, but he insisted he didn’t. We went back into the house, and I found the computer tucked away on a shelf. Reassured, Bill agreed to go to church, so I took him.
Upon my return home, I looked for the power cord to the computer. It was completely missing. That happens around here. Things seem to disappear into the air. I can’t find clothes, dishes, books, household items. I did find the Honda key he had used—then lost—and secured it. But the power cord to the computer had vanished, and I’m pretty sure that’s all that’s wrong with the computer—no power.
And that is the problem—no power. No power to think, no power to reason, no power to remember, no power to adhere to a schedule or keep a neat house. His short term memory is down to seconds, not hours, days or months. I know I need to get someone into the house to spend more time with him, to stimulate him intellectually, but I don’t know how to do that. They all cost money. He has few friends of his own—most are my friends. He seems content most days, but I know the long hours alone while I’m at school are causing his mind to wander and facilitating his constant rearranging of things. It’s overwhelming, for sure.
Less than two weeks ago I met a friend for coffee on a Saturday morning after Mass, while Bill was at his men’s faith sharing group. My friend has a counseling background, and she grilled me. She then suggested I start seeing a counselor and get some exercise as a diversion to manage the stress. I agreed, and said I would do so.
A week later I’m at confession. Father George always asks about Bill. As I’m going through my laundry list of sins and stresses he interrupted me, took my hand and said “Sam, you need to get some exercise, and some recreation, or the stress will kill you and you won’t be any good to your students or to Bill.” I agreed.
Monday I saw my doctor, who reviewed my lab work with me, and told me—big surprise here—I needed to start getting some exercise to manage my stress, and find some recreational activity for a break from the stress.
I guess I need to listen. All those people who tell me the caregiver needs to take care of herself are right. I just need to start doing it.
I will, as soon as I find the power cord to Bill’s computer and make sure it’s working properly.
This post originally appeared on The View from Little D blog on Feb. 6, 2013.
This post originally appeared on The View from Little D blog on Feb. 6, 2013.
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