Tag Archives: Sports

Fair Day, Good Day

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When Al first comes home from the Hospice House he is the best. So we take advantage of these times. Today is one of the new normal days he doesn’t go to Day Program so his body can stay rested.

But today was a special day. It was Street Fair day at Day Program. I didn’t know exactly what to expect. Would the parking lot be crowded and I would have to push his wheel chair a mile? Was it out in the parking lot? What would be going on.

We pulled into the parking area and nothing seemed different. When we walked in anyone that saw me pushing Al came up immediately and said hello to him. One of the office people was in view and Al told her immediately, ” I can only come three days a week now. My body gets too tired.” She gave him a pat on the back and said, ” I know Al, but we still want you here. Even if you have to drop more days, we still want you here. We love having you with us.” With that, Al wept a little but not bad.

I whisked him off to the courtyard where the little fair was going on. Now for you and me we wouldn’t even call it little. We may call it a speck, but for people like Al and the other clients it was a change. A chance to get outside in the fresh air. A chance to visit with their friends. A chance to have some fun.

There was some tables sitting decorated with different articles representing what each class was based on. There was a game of corn hole, a little miniature golf course and a batting cage.

One of Al’s hero, named  Andy  was in charge of the games and he took Al from me and pushed him to each game. Hand over hand Al was able to play each game. He beamed from ear to ear.

I couldn’t help let out happy tears as it was so wonderful to see this caring man helping Al to enjoy the hour. For every game Al played, he won a plastic dollar. In the end he had gained three dollars and turned them in at the gift area. He bought himself a key chain, a deck of cards and a new hankie or bandana.

Al was thrilled. His head was beginning to hang pretty far. A sure sign his body is tiring out. Scott helped me get Al back in the car and of course Al said he was hungry. I took him to his favorite soda shop and he ate a whole cheeseburger and french fries.

We came home and I changed him and laid him down. He is already sound asleep. I am so proud. The part of me that is human didn’t really want to take him. I was thinking of the heavy wheel chair, loading it and unloading it is hard on my body. But he had a good time, and I had a good time knowing he smiled so much.cornhole2mini-golf-1-big

Two Souls Searching

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She was the ugly duckling. He was the jock. She was in the cheer block. He played       lost souls      football. She had stars in her eyes. He had dollars in his. She wanted to fall in love. He wanted a scholarship.

One time before game time she got in a tiff with her parents. That same day he decided to score with his gal. The game was good. Excitement, cheers and streamers. After the game she remained behind. He went into the locker room.

She climbed high on the bleachers. He high-fived and showered. She bled tears in her hands. He came out with his girl on his arm. She heard murmurs below. He was getting too  fresh.

She heard a slap on the face. He told her to get back here. She watched the girl run. He ran towards her than quit. She watched in silence. He kicked the bleachers.

She coughed without reason. He looked up in her direction. She watched as if she’d been caught. He stepped up one by one.

She turned in his direction. He sat down beside her. She sat catching her breath. He bowed his head in silence. She touched his arm with her hand. He looked up at her face.

Tears streaming from her eyes. Weeping took over him. She said, “It’s alright.”  He dropped his head in her lap.

She caressed his hair. He wept harder.

Two Souls

Two separate souls searching.

Each from worlds apart

Two broken hearts come together

Meeting and healing the heart.

Written by,

Terry Shepherd

09/14/2013

 

A Big Thank-you

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I want to thank Toni and Lori for sending Al a card. He can’t open them anymore and refuses to break the habit of wearing his glasses at all times, so he can’t read the cards. He has me open them and read them to him and he sits back and smiles. He tells me the same thing every time he gets a card. ” I can’t believe I have all these friends.”

If anyone still wants to send Al a card please email me at; tellmenolies2004@yahoo.com   for his address.

Al's cards 4

book4AnimatedCandleThoughtandPrayers

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Al’s Card Update

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I have had a few ask about our address and I have sent the required information. Another blogger suggested a brilliant idea. Since Al is becoming confused and forgetful, sending a small photo of yourself or who ever is sending the card would be fantastic.

I am going to get a poster board and tack up all the cards and hopefully matching picture/photos beside each card.coca-cola-women-advertising-endorser-hilda-clark

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The Third Bunch Of Thank-Yous For Al’s Cards

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English: I took this picture myself.

English: I took this picture myself. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

An example from 1949.

An example from 1949. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I wanted to come to you once again and say a huge thank-you to all who have responded to sending my brother a get well card or any of the other many wonderful cards that have been sent.

He loves them and his eyes got so big today, even after the ordeal at the dentist. He received four cards today, and boy, was he excited!!!!

So a big thank-you today to:

Tara

Diane

Jo

Ivonne

 

You all get my blessings for helping to make this day brighter for Al. May God bless each of you!

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Our Day, My Time

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Beautiful day, perfect temperatures, plenty of sun. What more could you ask for, maybe free time? fun time? laughter? chatter?

Since it was so beautiful, I took my brother to an antique store a little ways out-of-town. I found one shaker that I purchased, and he bought each of the three items that had to do with coca cola. After that store, I dropped in on a garage sale that was going on. Al didn’t want to get out and look, because it didn’t have anything to do with coca cola, but I ignored his sour face and I went and browsed anyways. He stayed in the car. After leaving there, I took him to lunch and then went and picked up medications at the pharmacy. He did pretty well for this trip. Tired, run down and wore out from his walking in the one store, we came home.

He napped, I petted the cat and then she and I napped. Afterwards, when all three of us were up, I asked him if he wanted to go to Arby’s for supper, and he said yes, but when he found out I had different plans to not eat in the restaurant, and instead go to the park and enjoy God’s beauty and people watching with our drive thru meal, he wasn’t happy anymore.

Very seldom, do I get my own way, but thanks to two very close friends, I am learning that I count. I should get my own way, and I have to acknowledge he can be a grown up spoiled baby. I was determined to have my time, my day also. I gave him his earlier, now it was my turn.

He sulked and looked at no one. He let a few tears pass. He complained about body aches, and all this time, I am eating my supper, and taking photos. When I had felt that I had nothing new to aim and shoot at, I asked him if he was ready to go. The whole time we were there, he sat like a bump on a log, and it made me furious, that he could think of no one but himself, but I ignored the most part and made the most out of the time I was taking.

Here are some photos that I took.