Our family gets together when we can. Everyone is always going in different directions. You know--the average family of today. The eldest couple in our family is my mother and father-in-law. They will be eighty-nine and ninety in October. The last few years have not been good for them.
My mother-in-law has had to deal with heart bypasses, cancer, anemia, severe nose bleeds and a broken hip. Every meal together has been a blessing; and she is still able to maintain. She has such determination and drive.
My father-in-law, a very educated and well traveled man, was always the gentleman. Bill did anything he could to make her life a little easier. Unfortunately, during the last few years while
Anne was going through her problems, his started. He has had to endure several strokes. The last couple have physically impaired his left arm and the right side of his brain.
When I have the time or opportunity I try to get him to use his left hand. If I continue to push him he will try. But most of the time he cannot maintain and stops when I do.
The other night we had a birthday dinner for my sister-in-law. She and I were still at the table with him and he wanted a piece of cake. I told him if he picked up his fork with his left hand I would get him a piece.
My sister-in-law and I watched him strenuously stretch his arm and pick up the fork. We both clapped as the same time startling him. He looked up and dropped the fork, but smiled.
With that my know mother-in-law got his cake immediately, with ice cream.
There couldn't have been a better moment at the dinner table.
Jeanette Cheezum 2008
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:-)
I gave you a great big 10!