Crazy Stable

That's what my nearly-94-year-old Uncle Don proclaimed as we delicately shoehorned him into the car for his trip home from the Good Nursing Home. Yes, it all came together, and he's back home, at least for now--a Lady was found, his apartment was readied to the best of our ability (with invaluable help from Spouse and Child), and we sprung him yesterday morning.  He was keenly aware of his surroundings, and jubilantly cried, "You've rescued me!" as we pulled out of the patient drop-off and pick-up area (located, symbolically, right next to the garbage dumpster). The weekend nurse and aide barely flicked us a sullen glance, but they did make sure that we didn't make off with the tired and grubby wheelchair cushion under him--"that belongs to the nursing home." Here, nursie, sit on it.

Peering through his one working eye, Don was thrilled with the ordinary slipstream of life on the streets of Brooklyn--people, cars, businesses, signs, all delighted him afresh. He greeted the foggy outline of the George Washington Bridge like an old friend as we nosed up the Upper West Side, carols on the radio. Once home, he consumed some Chinese take-out with gusto and retired to bed for a nap, clearly feeling very weak and tired. There followed some harrowing hours during which we waited for the Lady to arrive--realizing that we had no feasible back-up plan if this stranger failed to show. Fueled by anxiety, I gloved up and destroyed the Ground Zero of his stupendous roach infestation while we waited. (Had no idea that dead roaches  could fall apart into that many pieces--far more than merely "head, thorax, and abdomen.") As  I mopped up the last of the mother lode of exoskeletons, Muriel arrived--a gentle, motherly lady and a blessing from above.

Shortly before we left, Don had a nightmare--he awoke terrified that the "ladies" in the nursing home were "tearing him apart." He lay there and determinedly repeated the word "peace" to calm himself, (he and his twin sister were great believers in the power of positive thinking), while we gathered around and assured him he was home. 

When illusion spin her net

I'm never where I want to be

And liberty she pirouette

When I think that I am free

Watched by empty silhouettes

Who close their eyes but still can see

No one taught them etiquette

I will show another me

Today I don't need a replacement

I'll tell them what the smile on my face meant

My heart going boom boom boom

"Hey," I said, "You can keep my things,

They've come to take me home."

--Solsbury Hill, Peter Gabriel.  (c) 1977  Peter  Gabriel Ltd.