We Gather Together

Sunday is almost over, and one of the most bittersweet Thanksgiving holidays I have ever experienced is drawing to a close.

Thursday was spent in Clay Center with my family. Not everyone was there - Sandy and Beth were in California, Andy and Kara were in Washington, the Howell kids were in Hutchinson, Michelle was in Wellington, Tyler was in Iraq, and Chuck, Denise and Sarah were inabsentia. But it was still a wonderful day, with my dad seeming to grow stronger as his physical therapy continues. We spent the night and Harry got the Christmas decorations up on Friday. We made it home in time for Kristy to go to work and for me to start gathering up things so Harry and I could head for Neodesha on Saturday morning.

We got to Neodesha and, after greeting Art & Jan and unloading the car, we went to Independence to the hospital to visit Thelma. We had been to see her about a week and a half previously, but during that whole time she was asleep. Saturday she was awake and trying to talk but not making herself understood, except to Dorothy and Ruth. She was sitting in a chair and looked well on her way to exiting this world. Harry was totally torn up and stated, when we left, that he did not want to come back unless she was asleep.

We went to Betty's house just as Sara was loading her car to head back home to Nashville. We were able to say "hi" and "bye" to her and to meet her dogs, Fred and Annabelle. We visited with Betty, John, and Virginia, getting to look at pictures from the girls' trip to Ireland and admire the Waterford crystal Virginia brought back.

Leaving Betty's, we headed to Dale and Evelyn's for a visit. Dale has spent a lot of time at the hospital with Thelma and was able to fill us in on some of what has happened over the last week and a half.

When we arrived back at Art and Jan's, Lorraine was there so we all piled in the van and went to Fredonia for bar-b-q. We had very good food and a great visit there.

The Mishler Thanksgiving dinner today was a smaller group than usual and concern for Thelma was ever-present, but it was still and enjoyable gathering. Harry and I left there and went to Independence for another hospital visit before coming home. Thelma looked better (not good, just better) and seemed more cognizant of what was going on, but it was still difficult to see her the way she is. It is so hard to imagine that she can improve if she cannot eat, and that she cannot or will not do.

So we had the pleasure of seeing and visiting with a lot of family, shawdowed by the poor condition of Thelma and tempered with concern for those who are spending so much of their time caring for her. Kind of the human experience encapsuled in one long weekend. And, of course, accompanied by way too much food.