the energizer bunny

My Father recently was hospitalized as a result of two heart attacks and a stroke. You are probably thinking this blog entry is going to be a little darker than my normal stuff, and you’d probably be right. But knowing me, I will inject a bit of humor and a lot of irony into the entry.
Way back in the early 1960’s my Father received his first death sentence-no more than six months left of his life, two years if he got a miracle. Don’t father anymore children, you won’t live to see them grow up. [I was the one and only at that point] But by the way, you might get the whole two years, and we’d gain knowledge to help others, if you’d try this experimental treatment. Always a gambler, he gave it a go.
Fast forward 44 years, here we are in the present. Not only have four of his five children grown to adulthood, a few of his seven grandchildren are approaching that threshold [note to the wee darlings-be aware that I said merely APPROACHING…you have not arrived at adulthood even at the ripe old ages of 19...16...and ESPECIALLY not 12...no matter how mature you think you are. Oh…and I love you muchly!]
Now you know how my father got the nickname "the energizer bunny".
So, after two ambulance rides, my father arrived at his hospital home for the rest of October and the beginning of November.
My mother and I moved in with my Aunt [near the hospital] and began a round of commuting-hospital, Aunt’s, home for a day or two, and work for me. Having a school related job meant I had several already-scheduled days off, which helped greatly. Over the next 16 days we learned just how much we have to be thankful for. A steady stream of visitors broke up the days for both of my parents and myself, those who couldn’t visit much gave us gas money [how about those prices, ay?], and we know there were a lot of prayers sent heavenward on our behalf.