Life wasn’t getting any easier. I decided Al needed to be home where his familiar doctors were. Al and I were not crazy about this idea. We both didn’t really want to walk back into memories that upset Al and made me sad.
The house listed and before we realized it we were packing up rooms, getting a moving van and were headed back to Indiana, our home town. There was really no excitement between…
Life wasn’t getting any easier. I decided Al needed to be home where his familiar doctors were. Al and I were not crazy about this idea. We both didn’t really want to walk back into memories that upset Al and made me sad.
The house listed and before we realized it we were packing up rooms, getting a moving van and were headed back to Indiana, our home town. There was really no excitement between the two of us as we saw the Warsaw sign come into view.
It was late and we were both tired from the travel and all the things that go along with moving. Because of the friction that was heavy in the extended family, Al and I didn’t let anyone know we were coming home except my kids.
My son was waiting on me to let me in to our new home. The movers were tired but went straight to work unloading the truck and setting up our beds. I believe Al and I finally flopped into bed around 4am.
The next day I wanted to pull my hair out as I looked around our home and saw box after box. Al and I both needed to take morning medications so we dug clothing out of our over night bags, got dressed and went into town for breakfast.
It didn’t take long while eating that Al and I started talking about the past. Had people’s views changed while we had been gone those few years? Was the talk about who was to get what past now that the estate had been closed long ago?
As we ate, we watched the news on the overhead TV and watched cars go by. Afterwards we went back to our home and Al started putting his room together. He complained of being tired and sore. I told him, ” Just do what you can bud. I will help you with everything else.”
He seemed alright with that. He went for his prize coca-cola and started setting it around. Then he got his clothes out and put what he could in his drawers. He cleared off his bed and laid down to watch TV.
That was fine with me. He didn’t feel well and yet he still helped. I spent most of the day busy putting things away. I started with the bathrooms and then the kitchen. I made sure that things we needed were unpacked first. Dishes, glasses, silverware, toilet paper, bath towels and wash cloths.
By the end of the day I was exhausted but still not finished; but at least I had a path to walk through. Al and I ordered a pizza for supper and had it delivered. For the rest of the evening we watched TV and went to bed early.
The next day was more unpacking. Within three days I had the place pretty presentable. I then started on the projects for Al. I called his former doctors and had records sent here from Florida. I called a company that Al used to work through to see about a Day Program.
By the end of that day we had scheduled appointments set with our new family doctor, Al’s old heart doctor and Cardinal Center, the company Al had been associated with for years.
We went to supper at Golden Coral. Al loved eating there because it was buffet and he could make all his own choices. Al did pretty good walking. His top half of his body leaned to the side and his total side definitely was weaker, but he got what he wanted to eat all by himself.
As the days moved forward we discovered through the heart doctor that Al had suffered what is called a TIA, a silent stroke. This is what caused his upper half to lean to one side.
The heart doctor said for the damages that Al had suffered in his heart attack and the Angina he had now, he was in pretty good shape. She said he would not be able to keep us with most people and he would tire more easy than others. I was happy with this news.
The family doctor took Al’s vitals and had his records from where we had lived here before and his records from Florida. He asked many questions such as how was Al feeling on a daily basis, how was his appetite, did he suffer constipation, did he take vitamins.
After having an hour meeting the doctor ordered a CBC,(complete blood count) for Al and said to come back the following week.
We had only seen one neurologist when we had lived here prior but I had actually forgotten that so a new doctor was ordered. We went to see him a couple of weeks later.
We spent the in between hours enjoying the fall weather and looking at pumpkin decorations and houses that were fixed up for Halloween. We decorated our own home for the holidays and soon drifted between doctor visits and the thoughts of Christmas and snow. Neither of us were looking forward to that at all. I think this is what we missed the most about Florida, no snow.
We ate out a few times a week. My son told Al and me of car shows that were coming up. I decided to take Al to see them and before long Al had decided to add a new interest to his hobby; car collecting.
My son loved Chevy Bel Airs. He had one that was aqua blue and Al fell in love with it. Al started collecting these same type of cars. If he could not find one he would purchase an old car of another model. He loved the police cars from the era of Andy Griffith. By the end of Al’s life his room was filled up with these two special cars and many others along with his coca cola that he found.
Henry finished in the bathroom. He was listening to some music when he heard the door knocker. He answered it and there stood Jane and her parents. Carol walked in and welcomed them. She showed Jane to the bedroom she would get changed.
Henry and his dad chatted with Jane’s parents and then the preacher arrived. Carol offered them all something to drink while they were waiting for the bride. ” It sure is a good day for the wedding isn’t it”? Reverend Dan asked. “Yes it sure is. It was a perfect day to mow the yard too”. George replied.
Jane was asking for her mother. When Debbie walked in she broke out in a smile. Her daughter looked beautiful. She had a cream-colored taffeta dress on. It was knee-length. Simple and beautiful with a big bow in the back at the waist.
“Help me put my veil on please mom” Jane said. With careful movement the veil was placed. Both ladies looked in the mirror and smiled. ” I hope you will be happy Jane. You have a big road a head of you. Just take one day at a time”. Jane gave her mom a quick hug and stood in front of the mirror as her mother left to let everyone know Jane was ready.
Reverend Dan stood in the middle and each set of parents stood on either side. Henry in his black suit stood tall and handsome waiting for Jane to appear. Music was playing in the background as Jane appeared. She walked over to Henry and stood beside him.
Vows were said and the kiss was given. They were now married. George said,” Well congratulations you two and hope you are as happy as Carol and I have been. Welcome to the family Debbie and Dave”. Everyone shook hands and hugged and then Carol invited them to help themselves to the food she had set out.
Henry and Jane did not know that they were going to have a wedding cake. They had not had the money to purchase one. When they saw it they hugged each other. ” This is one of our gifts to you kids” Carol said. I hope it taste as good as it looks. They all chuckled and filled their plates.
Sitting in the living room Dave asked Henry,” So what are your plans now? Going anywhere special tonight”?
Henry said, ” Yes, I have plans. It is a secret though. I haven’t told Jane where we are going”.
Jane looked at him and asked ” Where are we going? You can tell me now. We are married folks”. Henry laughed and replied, ” You will just have to wait and see.”
Carol said to Henry and Jane, ” If you two want to go ahead and leave it’s all right with us. We will just sit here and visit with our new in-laws”. Henry and Jane looked at each other and agreed and said, ” Sure Mom, I guess we can go ahead and leave. We will see you tomorrow sometime”.
The two went into Henry’s room and gathered a bag together and saying goodbye to everyone and thanks for coming they left. Carol went back into the kitchen to start cleaning up a little bit. She was running some dish water when Debbie came out and asked, ” Would you like some help? It will give us a chance to get to know each other a little bit better”.
“Sure I don’t mind the help. I am sort of tired. It may have been a small wedding but it was still work. I guess I am just getting old”. The two laughed and did the dishes. Carol asked, ” How long you and Dave been married”?
“Too long some days I think. Some days that man just gets on my nerves so bad. Then other days I don’t know what I would do without him”.
“Yes, I know what you mean. I think all marriages are like that” Carol said.
Henry gave Jane the biggest kiss he ever had. ” Well how does it feel to be married”?
“I don’t know Henry. I have only been married about two hours”. The two laughed and Henry started the car and they took off. He drove to the motel that he had reserved and parked the car. The two walked in and announced they were here for their room.
After filling out the required paper work, the attendant handed Henry the key to the room. The two walked down the long hall until they saw the room number and he unlocked the door. Jane started to walk through and Henry said, ” Wait wait wait. You are not walking in the door”.
He swooped her up in his arms and carried her through the door and sat her on the bed. “There, I did it right. We are officially married now” Henry laughed. He went back out in the hall and grabbed their bag. He put the DO NOT DISTURB card on the door and shut it.
He stood in front of Jane saying nothing. Their eyes spoke to each other. Soon he was helping her off with her clothes. He took his off and the two laid on the bed. No more sneaking around. This time was all theirs. In each others arms. Loving each other like this was the very first time.
Afterwards, they took a shower together and laid down on the bed and held hands and talked about their future. After some time went by they got dressed and checked out the room better.
“Look Henry, at this closet. They have a built-in hair dryer and they even have bags for your dirty laundry. Over here is a television remote. That is so cool. We can stay in bed and switch the channels”.
Henry liked that part. He took the remote and flipped on the television and started going through the channels. ” You hungry Jane? After that wild sex I am getting pretty hungry”.
Jane said, “I am getting hungry. My stomach is growling”. Henry walked over to where she was standing and placed his hand on her belly. ” We don’t want to starve the kid so let’s go get something to eat”. he replied.
Who I am 