The Beth Lists
  • Homepage
  • Little Bear's Adventures
  • Diverse Dining List
  • 90 Notable Nights
  • Happy List
  • Quilt Adventure Blog
  • Not So Happy List
  • The Texas Twenty List
  • Mom's Picnic List
  • 18+ Dance Adventures
  • 55 Strangers
  • The Barbie Bucket List
  • 60 Celebrations
  • 57 Celebrations of the Fifties!







​​Not So Happy List

#167 - Don't Like Isolated Birthdays

9/2/2020

0 Comments

 
Dad's 93rd

Today is Dad's birthday. I've been fretting about it.
Picture
This photo was taken in 2018, when Dad moved into assisted living. Never would I have guessed that 2.5 years later, he would be isolated in his living quarters... for 6 months. How do you make your dad's birthday special, when you're far away and he is locked in.

​Gifts? Cards?
We were on the road coming back from seeing the kids, when I realized I was running out of time.
Picture
I always travel with stamps, so I made a corny card in a hotel room. I ordered gifts on Amazon. No homemade cookies or special handmade gifts.

Night Before

It made me so frustrated and sad and angry to know that my dad could not have a hug or a visitor or an outing on his birthday. Now, his facility allows some outdoor visits, but they don't schedule them on Wednesdays.
Picture
So I took this silly photo and sent it to my Uncle. He said he would share it with Dad when he saw him next.

FaceTime?

I knew I'd talk to Dad on his birthday, but that's nothing special. We talk daily. I wish we could do a FaceTime call, but he seems uncomfortable with that.
Picture
Picture
So I fretted some more. Then I had Don take a video of me doing a very silly Happy Birthday song. He jumped in at the end and we blasted horns. I sent the video to a staff member. "Could you show this to my dad on his birthday?"

What Else?

Then I worried more and texted the kids in CA and OR.
Picture
The kids sent videos and photos with birthday greetings. Yay! These would also be shared along with my singing video. 

Well, I guess all that worrying was for nothing. Dad had a good birthday, without my frantic worrying. My siblings all called and sent gifts. My Uncle was allowed to take him out for lunch, after all. What!? I was so surprised and pleased. I thought they were still on lockdown! Dad was delighted with the collage frame that I sent, but he didn't seem to remember anything about being shown photos or videos.

I think he just had too much going on and can't remember everything. Here I had pictured him, sitting all day watching his birds. He was having a much bigger pandemic birthday than anyone else has had in our family! Lunch out and tons of calls and gifts. Whew. I need to save my fretting for bigger things.
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Not-So-Happy                    List

    Cancer, Covid
    & Coronary...


    I started this complaining list/blog, in May 2016. I posted 200 gripes about my breast CANCER and then I was done.

    On March 13, 2020, I started venting all over again, when another disease (starting with a C) interfered with my life. This time it was the invasion of COVID and it affected every person. I ranted for a year, until I got my COVID vaccine in March 2021.

    CORONARY Artery Disease was the reason I restarted this blog on September 26, 2021. This time it was my hubby Don, who was dealing with a worry that started with the letter "C".

    ​Coronavirus and Cancer, Coronary Artery Disease! All are evil, but none can totally get me down... if I vent!  I usually end up feeling a little more positive at the end of each post!

    ​Navigating This Mess!


    "Cancer" Posts  
    5/2016 - 12/2018

    "Covid" Posts
    3/2020 - 3/2021

    "Coronary" Posts
    9/2021 - 1/2022

    click on months below
    ​

    Archives

    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    December 2018
    October 2018
    August 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016

    Categories

    All
    1- Cancer Days (early Thru Chemo)
    2 Post Chemo Thru Radiation
    3 Covid Year
    4 -Coronary Days

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly
  • Homepage
  • Little Bear's Adventures
  • Diverse Dining List
  • 90 Notable Nights
  • Happy List
  • Quilt Adventure Blog
  • Not So Happy List
  • The Texas Twenty List
  • Mom's Picnic List
  • 18+ Dance Adventures
  • 55 Strangers
  • The Barbie Bucket List
  • 60 Celebrations
  • 57 Celebrations of the Fifties!