Honesty is an interesting thing... we show our honesty or lack thereof in all aspects of our lives.
Yesterday I was involved in a conversation where someone made the comment that most people would never dream of stealing something from a store, but that they may not think twice about not returning a library book. Isn't keeping something that belongs to someone else, even a library, the same as stealing?
There was a snow storm in November. I had taken the long way home because the roads were so slick. Just as I turned onto my own street, my car started to fishtail and it did a slow curving slide. When the car came to a stop, I had hit the last few inches of a little red pickup. I didn't really see any damage to the pickup, but I crimped the hood of my own car and there was a little red paint on the headlight on the driver's side of my car. I hurriedly ran to the house and knocked on the door. No one was home. These were not neighbors that I knew. No one was on the street. No one saw me hit the pickup.
I had groceries in the car and no paper to write a note, so I drove the block to my house, unloaded the car and quickly dashed off a note. Then I went back to the house on the corner, knocked on the door again, and finally just taped my note to the door because there was still no answer.
On my way back home, I stopped at a neighbor's house. The man was shoveling snow and I knew he was a state highway patrolman and could tell me what to do. He advised me to call the city police department on their non-emergency line. That is exactly what I did the moment I got home. An hour or two later, a policeman came to my house, listened to my story and wrote a report. He looked at my car and then we both went down the street to look at the pickup. Still no one was home. When we left, he had also left a note on the door. Over the next week or so, he continued to try to contact the people who lived in that house on the corner.
Later that day I related the story to a couple of neighbor girls. They know me quite well. After I had told about leaving the note and "confessing" about what happened, the younger girl asked "Why would you want to do that?" What she was really asking was why I would deliberately put myself into a position where I might be punished for what I had done, even if it was an accident. From my perspective, however, it was a lot less difficult to confess and pay the price (whatever it might be) for what I had done, than to live with the worry that someone might have seen me-- and called the police or told the neighbors. If I had not been honest to begin with, the penalty for hitting the pickup could have resulted in my being arrested or having to pay a big fine.
I know someone who smokes cigarettes, but who tries to hide it from everyone. He thinks he does it in private where people can't see. Sometimes he changes his shirt or his clothes after smoking, thinking that people won't notice the smell of cigarette smoke on his clothing. Breath mints have never done a very good job of disguising the bad breath that comes with smoking. Ultimately, however, which is worse-- smoking cigarettes or the "cover up", the lying that takes place when one pretends to be something that one isn't. I think people-- myself included-- are more willing to forgive someone who is honest about their bad habits, particularly when they show a desire to repent, to overcome their bad habit, even if they struggle to do so. It's a lot harder to overcome something if you are spending all of your time trying to hide it, pretending that the problem doesn't exist.
Superheroes understand the value of honesty in every aspect of their lives. They understand that trust must exist between themselves and others-- and trust is built on honesty. Without that trust, when the time of crisis comes, the people who need to be saved won't believe what the superhero says or that he/she is able to save them. Superheroes do their best to be honest, knowing that the consequences for dishonesty are always worse than the consequences of being honest. In my case, the owners of the red pickup never contacted me. The policeman let me know that he had tried several times to contact them and they never called him either. His report was on file, but that I was not responsible for anything else. My conscience is clear.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Saturday, March 21, 2009
A day in the life...
Superheroes must have some time management secrets-- otherwise, how could they cram all of their superhero activities into a single day and still have time for their alterego selves to hold a job and have a personal life. I just wish that they would share these secrets with the rest of us.
I started this blog with the intention of writing every single day or at least 5 times a week. A week later I bought a dog and find that I'm lucky to get the newspaper and my scriptures read during the 6 hours between the moment I get home and the time I go to bed. Since Mom usually fixes dinner, I generally take care of the dishes and clean up. It's a challenge to even squeeze out the few minutes needed to complete that task.
We've learned that we ignore the puppy at our own peril. Sammie has a curiosity that knows no bounds. We've started closing doors that we used to leave open. We've had to baby-proof the house, i.e., put things at levels that the puppy can't reach. If we don't watch her every minute, she's apt to poop on the floor instead of outside. We've learned her basic schedule, but she's not a little robot and is apt to have "accidents."
When she wants to play, she doesn't like to play alone. We have socks and chew toys and teething toys and cardboard boxes that are designated as her playthings. If we don't keep her mouth occupied, there's a good chance that she'll nip us to get our attention.
I'm not a complete moron when it comes to time management. I've attended classes that taught me to set priorities and to take care of the "big" things first and then fill in the leftover spaces with smaller things. I guess puppies truly are like children-- and they qualify as a high priority. I'm hoping that life will get easier as Sammie learns the rules and chooses to keep them. It's all part of training the "little ones" in our lives.
In the meantime, I'm open for suggestions!
I started this blog with the intention of writing every single day or at least 5 times a week. A week later I bought a dog and find that I'm lucky to get the newspaper and my scriptures read during the 6 hours between the moment I get home and the time I go to bed. Since Mom usually fixes dinner, I generally take care of the dishes and clean up. It's a challenge to even squeeze out the few minutes needed to complete that task.
We've learned that we ignore the puppy at our own peril. Sammie has a curiosity that knows no bounds. We've started closing doors that we used to leave open. We've had to baby-proof the house, i.e., put things at levels that the puppy can't reach. If we don't watch her every minute, she's apt to poop on the floor instead of outside. We've learned her basic schedule, but she's not a little robot and is apt to have "accidents."
When she wants to play, she doesn't like to play alone. We have socks and chew toys and teething toys and cardboard boxes that are designated as her playthings. If we don't keep her mouth occupied, there's a good chance that she'll nip us to get our attention.
I'm not a complete moron when it comes to time management. I've attended classes that taught me to set priorities and to take care of the "big" things first and then fill in the leftover spaces with smaller things. I guess puppies truly are like children-- and they qualify as a high priority. I'm hoping that life will get easier as Sammie learns the rules and chooses to keep them. It's all part of training the "little ones" in our lives.
In the meantime, I'm open for suggestions!
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Looking Good vs. Being Good
Superheroes know the difference between looking good, being good and doing good. They know that "looking good" is the easiest of the three because it focuses on the surface and requires no real change. But the satisfaction derived from looking good is precarious and doesn’t last very long.
"Looking good" focuses on the moment. He/she only cares about how they appear on the outside. "Looking good" just wants everyone's attention and will do whatever it takes to get it. It means being the prettiest or most handsome, wearing the coolest clothes, driving the hottest car, living in the fanciest house. The problem is that looks and fashion change. Today’s hottest fashion won’t be so desirable tomorrow; it will be boring. Even worse, there is always the fear that someone else is going to come along who is prettier, has nicer clothes or better stuff.
At work or school, “looking good” defines success as making more money and having the most prestigious job title and office. “Looking good” doesn’t care how they acquire those things; the less effort the better. But “looking good” is always checking over their shoulder, scoping out the competition, to see if someone else is there to threaten their position.
When “looking good” thinks someone might be stealing their limelight, he/she has to do something to get the attention back. They spend their time and money hunting for more exotic clothes, plastic surgery to change their looks, fancier cars and houses. But the fear that they might be fading from center stage remains; it pushes them to more and more extreme looks and actions. In many respects, the economic crisis everyone talks about is the result of “looking good” instead of “being good” and making the best decisions. People bought houses and clothes and stuff that they couldn’t afford, relying on credit cards to finance living beyond their means. Businesses did the same thing, minimizing or outright ignoring the risks, as long as they could make their annual report look good.
Superheroes know that “being good” may not garner the most attention, but “being good” is ALWAYS the safest and most satisfying choice. “Being good” means people pay attention, not because “Being good” is the most noticeable, but because of how they feel when they hang out with “Being good.” “Being good” cares about others. “Being good” never has to worry that someone is going to discover that they really aren’t the prettiest or the richest. “Being good” is never threatened that someone else might steal the limelight or that others won’t think they are cool. “Being good” has a soul-deep sense of peace at who they are and what they are. They know that they can stand confident in the “presence of God”—and, if you can stand confident before Him, you can stand confident before anyone and in any situation! Lastly, Superheroes know that if they are focused on “being good” that “doing good” will follow—and, “doing good” is all part of saving the world.
"Looking good" focuses on the moment. He/she only cares about how they appear on the outside. "Looking good" just wants everyone's attention and will do whatever it takes to get it. It means being the prettiest or most handsome, wearing the coolest clothes, driving the hottest car, living in the fanciest house. The problem is that looks and fashion change. Today’s hottest fashion won’t be so desirable tomorrow; it will be boring. Even worse, there is always the fear that someone else is going to come along who is prettier, has nicer clothes or better stuff.
At work or school, “looking good” defines success as making more money and having the most prestigious job title and office. “Looking good” doesn’t care how they acquire those things; the less effort the better. But “looking good” is always checking over their shoulder, scoping out the competition, to see if someone else is there to threaten their position.
When “looking good” thinks someone might be stealing their limelight, he/she has to do something to get the attention back. They spend their time and money hunting for more exotic clothes, plastic surgery to change their looks, fancier cars and houses. But the fear that they might be fading from center stage remains; it pushes them to more and more extreme looks and actions. In many respects, the economic crisis everyone talks about is the result of “looking good” instead of “being good” and making the best decisions. People bought houses and clothes and stuff that they couldn’t afford, relying on credit cards to finance living beyond their means. Businesses did the same thing, minimizing or outright ignoring the risks, as long as they could make their annual report look good.
Superheroes know that “being good” may not garner the most attention, but “being good” is ALWAYS the safest and most satisfying choice. “Being good” means people pay attention, not because “Being good” is the most noticeable, but because of how they feel when they hang out with “Being good.” “Being good” cares about others. “Being good” never has to worry that someone is going to discover that they really aren’t the prettiest or the richest. “Being good” is never threatened that someone else might steal the limelight or that others won’t think they are cool. “Being good” has a soul-deep sense of peace at who they are and what they are. They know that they can stand confident in the “presence of God”—and, if you can stand confident before Him, you can stand confident before anyone and in any situation! Lastly, Superheroes know that if they are focused on “being good” that “doing good” will follow—and, “doing good” is all part of saving the world.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Straying
Little Samantha Dustbunny is curious. She has begun to realize that the world is larger than just the front yard. She has explored the side yards and part of the backyard.When she first came to live with us, she stuck close to our feet. With each passing day, however, her comfort zone has expanded. She has crossed the street and explored my neighbors' yards. I follow her, plastic bag in hand-- but she thinks it's fun to keep 10 or 15 or 20 feet ahead of me.
Sammie has no real experience with danger and tragedy. She has ridden inside a car, but there is no way to make her understand that cars are dangerous. She is so tiny that drivers might not see her. If she were to wander off too far, I fear that she might get lost and not be able to find her way home. She is curious and, like most babies, has no concept of boundaries. There are so many interesting things to discover!
We've tried a harness and leash. The problem is that the harness is the smallest we could find, but it's still too big for her. She chews on both. She doesn't understand that they are intended to keep her safe. We are attempting to teach her to come when we call by giving her puppy treats when she comes.
The challenge is to teach Sammie caution, yet not to be overwhelmed by fear.
Superheroes are not afraid to take action, but they learn to assess new situations with caution. Saving the world demands that they do something; they have to try in order to succeed. Superheroes also learn how to assess situations. They know that some things are clearly dangerous to themselves and to others. They avoid these. While they may stay clear themselves, they call a warning voice to others to help them get out of danger. But, superheroes also know that fear must be conquered or it will paralyze us, keeping us away from good things in life. Superheroes aren't afraid to try conquering a math problem or shooting a basket or saying hello to the new kid at school. They know they dont' have to be perfect at something to find joy in it. Superheroes understand the value of "limited" success, that the fun may come in the attempt. It can be fun to laugh about the failures, which makes the joy of success all the sweeter.
Monday, March 9, 2009
Superhero mathematics
When it comes to saving the world, Superheroes don't count the way regular people do.
When doing a good deed, regular people count only the people they can see. If they were to stop a runaway bus that had 30 riders, they would say, "I saved 30 people today."
Sometimes regular people who give service don't even count people. Instead they count the frequency with which their service was given. They don't think, "I saved 50 people from hunger today." They say, "I served 50 meals today." Counting meals or things devalues the service. Service is counted by the number of people who are influenced by that act of kindness, not just the ones who received the service.
Superheroes don't count bodies or things. They count everyone whose life will ever touch the people saved in a single act of service. One person is not just one person. When a single individual is helped along the road of life-- the number helped is not "one." Superheroes know that their "count" only starts with that one person. If that person has children, superheroes know that their kindness is extended to those children-- and to the children's children and the children's children's children. If that one person had friends, the act of service may influence the lives of those friends. And the friends' children and the friends' children's children. The circle grows to include the children's friends and the friends' friends and on and on.
Superheroes know that doing good spreads like the ripples in a pond from the point of impact, spreading out to people and places that they cannot see. One good deed may change the lives of hundreds, thousands, maybe even millions of people-- from one generation to the next and then to still another.
Kindness and tiny acts of service are not counted using simple arithmetic where one plus one equals two. Superheroes understand that service is counted exponentially-- 10 times 10 times 10 times 10 and on into infinity.
Regular people who are out to save the world look for extraordinary circumstances-- they think that one has to save LOTS of people to make a difference. Superheroes know that one quiet act of service extended during a single person's most desperate hour can make a difference to generations of people.
That's why superheroes just go out there and do good. It isn't necessary to count people or things-- the counting will take care of itself.
When doing a good deed, regular people count only the people they can see. If they were to stop a runaway bus that had 30 riders, they would say, "I saved 30 people today."
Sometimes regular people who give service don't even count people. Instead they count the frequency with which their service was given. They don't think, "I saved 50 people from hunger today." They say, "I served 50 meals today." Counting meals or things devalues the service. Service is counted by the number of people who are influenced by that act of kindness, not just the ones who received the service.
Superheroes don't count bodies or things. They count everyone whose life will ever touch the people saved in a single act of service. One person is not just one person. When a single individual is helped along the road of life-- the number helped is not "one." Superheroes know that their "count" only starts with that one person. If that person has children, superheroes know that their kindness is extended to those children-- and to the children's children and the children's children's children. If that one person had friends, the act of service may influence the lives of those friends. And the friends' children and the friends' children's children. The circle grows to include the children's friends and the friends' friends and on and on.
Superheroes know that doing good spreads like the ripples in a pond from the point of impact, spreading out to people and places that they cannot see. One good deed may change the lives of hundreds, thousands, maybe even millions of people-- from one generation to the next and then to still another.
Kindness and tiny acts of service are not counted using simple arithmetic where one plus one equals two. Superheroes understand that service is counted exponentially-- 10 times 10 times 10 times 10 and on into infinity.
Regular people who are out to save the world look for extraordinary circumstances-- they think that one has to save LOTS of people to make a difference. Superheroes know that one quiet act of service extended during a single person's most desperate hour can make a difference to generations of people.
That's why superheroes just go out there and do good. It isn't necessary to count people or things-- the counting will take care of itself.
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Puppy parenthood
Parenthood is not for sissies! This applies to parenting puppies as well as people.
Part of a parent's job is to help their child learn how to get along with others. That is also true when one is parenting a puppy. The rules are pretty much the same. Puppies may not wear diapers, but they still have to learn a few bathroom rules-- like "we" (meaning dogs) don't go potty in the house. They also have to learn not to bite or nip at others, which is kind of hard because they explore the world by using their mouth. When they get excited, they can't go ballistic, but have to learn how to control themselves. We don't jump on or push others.
As the parent, it's my job to help Sammie learn these things. Even puppies have their equivalent of "time out." The guidebooks instruct that when she nips at me, I'm supposed to say "Ouch" in a very loud voice and to walk away from her and leave her alone for a few minutes until she can calm down.
Superheroes are not renegades. They know how to get along with other people. Think about it... have you ever seen Superman or Spiderman or any of the other great superheroes be rudc to others? No. Even when disguise as their alteregos, Clark Kent or Peter Parker, etc., they do their very best to behave appropriately. Someone had to show them how to behave and how to interact with others-- they had parents and other people who served as mentors to them to show them the way.
Even adults have mentors. When they are new to a situation or environment, these are the people who teach them the "unwritten" rules they need to know to succeed. Superheroes understand the value of a good mentor. They look carefully at the people around them and find the person with the best attitude, the one who gets along best with everyone, and the ones who are the most productive and successful at what they do. Two of the most important words in the English language are "Teach me." And superheroes aren't afraid to ask.
Part of a parent's job is to help their child learn how to get along with others. That is also true when one is parenting a puppy. The rules are pretty much the same. Puppies may not wear diapers, but they still have to learn a few bathroom rules-- like "we" (meaning dogs) don't go potty in the house. They also have to learn not to bite or nip at others, which is kind of hard because they explore the world by using their mouth. When they get excited, they can't go ballistic, but have to learn how to control themselves. We don't jump on or push others.
As the parent, it's my job to help Sammie learn these things. Even puppies have their equivalent of "time out." The guidebooks instruct that when she nips at me, I'm supposed to say "Ouch" in a very loud voice and to walk away from her and leave her alone for a few minutes until she can calm down.
Superheroes are not renegades. They know how to get along with other people. Think about it... have you ever seen Superman or Spiderman or any of the other great superheroes be rudc to others? No. Even when disguise as their alteregos, Clark Kent or Peter Parker, etc., they do their very best to behave appropriately. Someone had to show them how to behave and how to interact with others-- they had parents and other people who served as mentors to them to show them the way.
Even adults have mentors. When they are new to a situation or environment, these are the people who teach them the "unwritten" rules they need to know to succeed. Superheroes understand the value of a good mentor. They look carefully at the people around them and find the person with the best attitude, the one who gets along best with everyone, and the ones who are the most productive and successful at what they do. Two of the most important words in the English language are "Teach me." And superheroes aren't afraid to ask.
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Birthdays & Living in the Moment
Tonight we celebrated Dad's birthday with family friends. He was 79 on Tuesday. He may not be at his peak, but he doesn't really see it. He takes both morning and afternoon naps, but if you ask him if he's tired, he would answer "no."
As children, we are always looking forward. I once interviewed a friend's little sister for a college class. Ellen was 8 at the time and, when asked what age should would pick (if she could choose how old to be), she wanted to be 10-- because Evan (her older brother) was 10 and was allowed to do things that she could not do. When we're 8, we want to be 10. When we're 13, we want to be 16. When we're 16, we want to be 18. Or, we just say we "want to be grown up." When pressed for a reason, it's usually because we think that people who are the desired age have privileges that we do not enjoy.
As adults, we look back at our youth and sometimes wish that we could relive those years. I can remember being 30'ish and somewhat wistful about being 16. At 30, I had responsibilities. But 16 seemed ideal. At 16, I was old enough to have most of the "important" privileges enjoyed by adults. "School" was my job and I was pretty good at it. At the same time, I didn't have to worry about how to keep a roof over my head, food in my stomach, and clothes on my back. I could remember how fun it was to be sixteen-- one of the better years of my life!
Not long thereafter, I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. That's a story for another day. The point here is that, while the circumstances were slightly different, I was put into a situation that was somewhat comparable to being 16. My insurance coverage took care of most of my medical bills and guaranteed some degree of income during that time. I still had a car, even if I was too sick to drive it. My family helped to care for me and got me to and from doctor visits and chemotherapy. There were lots of positive things to come out of the experience. The lesson I learned was that every time in our lives brings both blessings and challenges. As I dealt with the challenge of cancer, I saw parallels between then and that time I thought was so perfect.
At 16, I realized that much of my time was spent worrying that I wasn't good enough. I did well at school. I was close enough to satisfy my ambition, but far enough away to still worry about it. I had friends, but worried about whether people liked me. My clothes weren't rags, but I worried that they weren't right. Turns out that, for all of the highlights, there were some lowlights as well.
Superheroes live in the moment. Looking backward is like wearing blinders-- we ignore all of the wonderful things going on around us and can't enjoy being part of them. Looking too far into the future is clearly fantasyland-- nothing has happened yet. If we ever hope to turn those fantasies into a reality, we have to live in the moment. There are things that must be done today to prepare ourselves, to lay the foundation necessary to create the life we hope to live. Dreams help us to envision the future we want to have. But dreams can never replace the preparatory steps that will lead us to the fulfillment of those dreams.
As children, we are always looking forward. I once interviewed a friend's little sister for a college class. Ellen was 8 at the time and, when asked what age should would pick (if she could choose how old to be), she wanted to be 10-- because Evan (her older brother) was 10 and was allowed to do things that she could not do. When we're 8, we want to be 10. When we're 13, we want to be 16. When we're 16, we want to be 18. Or, we just say we "want to be grown up." When pressed for a reason, it's usually because we think that people who are the desired age have privileges that we do not enjoy.
As adults, we look back at our youth and sometimes wish that we could relive those years. I can remember being 30'ish and somewhat wistful about being 16. At 30, I had responsibilities. But 16 seemed ideal. At 16, I was old enough to have most of the "important" privileges enjoyed by adults. "School" was my job and I was pretty good at it. At the same time, I didn't have to worry about how to keep a roof over my head, food in my stomach, and clothes on my back. I could remember how fun it was to be sixteen-- one of the better years of my life!
Not long thereafter, I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. That's a story for another day. The point here is that, while the circumstances were slightly different, I was put into a situation that was somewhat comparable to being 16. My insurance coverage took care of most of my medical bills and guaranteed some degree of income during that time. I still had a car, even if I was too sick to drive it. My family helped to care for me and got me to and from doctor visits and chemotherapy. There were lots of positive things to come out of the experience. The lesson I learned was that every time in our lives brings both blessings and challenges. As I dealt with the challenge of cancer, I saw parallels between then and that time I thought was so perfect.
At 16, I realized that much of my time was spent worrying that I wasn't good enough. I did well at school. I was close enough to satisfy my ambition, but far enough away to still worry about it. I had friends, but worried about whether people liked me. My clothes weren't rags, but I worried that they weren't right. Turns out that, for all of the highlights, there were some lowlights as well.
Superheroes live in the moment. Looking backward is like wearing blinders-- we ignore all of the wonderful things going on around us and can't enjoy being part of them. Looking too far into the future is clearly fantasyland-- nothing has happened yet. If we ever hope to turn those fantasies into a reality, we have to live in the moment. There are things that must be done today to prepare ourselves, to lay the foundation necessary to create the life we hope to live. Dreams help us to envision the future we want to have. But dreams can never replace the preparatory steps that will lead us to the fulfillment of those dreams.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
She has a name!
The puppy finally has a name... it's Samantha Dustbunny. She'll most likely be called Sammie. When she is feeling frisky, she looks just like a jackrabbit running around the front yard. When she has worn herself out, running and pouncing on the ball, she crashes. She either wants to be held or she will just fall asleep sitting next to one of us. Even Dad seems to love her. He is very watchful about her food and water and making sure we take her outside on a regular basis. Mom took a picture of the two of them napping together.
Dad has problems with communication as a result of his stroke. The clinical term is aphasia. When referring to the puppy, he's called her a rabbit and a cat, but I don't think he's ever actually referred to her as a dog.
Strokes are generally caused by a bloodclot or a hemorrhage in the brain. In Dad's case, he had the hemorrhage, which means that a vessel started bleeding. In his case, the bleed was where all of the nerves come together in the brain, so it has affected both communication and motor skills. Reasoning power is also somewhat diminished.
It's been hard to watch his decline. He was and still is a very social person. He was always on the go. Now I think he is only able to move his right foot through sheer willpower. Watching him, you can just see the wheels turning in his brain, but the foot won't move. His leg shakes from the effort, but the foot stays put. Then when he is finally able to lift it, it is often positioned wrong, so that he tries to put his weight on the outside edge of his foot, instead of on the flat part of the sole.
Initially Sammie was frightened by his cane. But we've watched her study his movements and now she is primarily curious about it. It's amazing to watch them bond.
Superheroes understand what it feels to be afraid. They just find a way to move past their fears in order to accomplish something good. Samantha Dustbunny is still a baby, but every day her world seems to get a little larger. Unlike human babies, she can walk and is extremely curious. My father no longer understands what it means to be afraid-- he runs on sheer determination! He never gives up-- and he makes sure that we accomplish the things we set out to do. He's dangerous with a list! He'll nag at you until everything has been crossed off. The good thing about it all is that he does it all with good humor. He just doesn't understand why anyone would choose to postpone doing the things that need to be done-- NOW!
Dad has problems with communication as a result of his stroke. The clinical term is aphasia. When referring to the puppy, he's called her a rabbit and a cat, but I don't think he's ever actually referred to her as a dog.
Strokes are generally caused by a bloodclot or a hemorrhage in the brain. In Dad's case, he had the hemorrhage, which means that a vessel started bleeding. In his case, the bleed was where all of the nerves come together in the brain, so it has affected both communication and motor skills. Reasoning power is also somewhat diminished.
It's been hard to watch his decline. He was and still is a very social person. He was always on the go. Now I think he is only able to move his right foot through sheer willpower. Watching him, you can just see the wheels turning in his brain, but the foot won't move. His leg shakes from the effort, but the foot stays put. Then when he is finally able to lift it, it is often positioned wrong, so that he tries to put his weight on the outside edge of his foot, instead of on the flat part of the sole.
Initially Sammie was frightened by his cane. But we've watched her study his movements and now she is primarily curious about it. It's amazing to watch them bond.
Superheroes understand what it feels to be afraid. They just find a way to move past their fears in order to accomplish something good. Samantha Dustbunny is still a baby, but every day her world seems to get a little larger. Unlike human babies, she can walk and is extremely curious. My father no longer understands what it means to be afraid-- he runs on sheer determination! He never gives up-- and he makes sure that we accomplish the things we set out to do. He's dangerous with a list! He'll nag at you until everything has been crossed off. The good thing about it all is that he does it all with good humor. He just doesn't understand why anyone would choose to postpone doing the things that need to be done-- NOW!
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