Before he passed on, my grandfather was in a care facility. He was weak and not very capable of carrying on a conversation. He specifically didn’t want a lot of chat. What he wanted was company. Just someone in the room with him while he napped after lunch. So, we had a routine, I’d go through the dairy queen drive thru and get him some small treat, usually an ice cream cone, that he couldn’t get at the nursing home. He’d eat it, we’d visit and then he’d drop off for his afternoon nap. I read a book while he slept. When he woke up a couple of hours later, we’d visit for a few more minutes, I’d help him get up and get ready for dinner and he’d go to the cafeteria with his friends and I’d go home.
He just wanted someone’s physical presence in the room. He even fussed at me for reading. Told me I needed to crochet like my grandmother did. Apparently that was their afternoon routine after they retired. He’d nap and she’d crochet.
I apologize. I should not have been so harsh. For myself, the time I had with my father towards the end was precious. I cannot imagine spending even a moment not listening to him talk about my mother or his memories of life. And when he did sleep, I prayed over him. The man and woman who give you life and raise you and love you deserve your honor. It’s a sore point because I have witnessed ingrates who treat parental visits as though they are some burden.