Sometimes the being able to actually have a day OFF requires being AWAY from your desk, the schedule, and (maybe?) even the phone.  I admit it is harder to be away from the phone these days!  Except when technology doesn't seem to be working very well.......

There were several times Dad and I would take "off" on my day off.  When the weather was co-operating we could go for short "day trips."  We went to quite a few places.  The furthest away was Lake Itasca - it is several hours away from where we were living at the time.  Other trips were "only" a couple of hours away.  We went to Pipestone and were at the museum in Pipestone and at the National Monument.  Dad wasn't able to walk very far so he stayed in the building, probably talking to anyone who would answer him, (Dad never met a stranger.) while I walked the very well marked trail.  It was fascinating to see, and learn, the history and realize this is available just a few miles from "modern" life.  You couldn't see, or hear, any traffic.  I only heard a few other people even!

Thankfully I did have my phone with me so I could show Dad pictures of some of what I saw.  We had lunch between the museum and the National Monument.  We were back home by supper.  It is one of the special memories I have of traveling with Dad.  Caregivers, do you have a special memory of travel?  Can you take a day trip?  Where, near you, can you go?

And we all think of Bob Hope swinging a golf club.......  Or...we start thinking about our own special memories.  Sometimes the memories are of special times with family.  Sometimes they are of special time with our "person" we are now the Caregiver for.  Sometimes we can share them with the people around us.  Sometimes people just wonder what the "funny look," or the smile, is about.

Recently I have been sharing some of the memories of either trips with Dad or how I watched as Dad did "his" ministry.  One special memory was of a toddler getting away from parents, crawling up the aisle at church and pulling on Dad's vestments.  Dad didn't miss a beat.  He kept right on with his sermon as he reached down and picked up the toddler.   My thought, then and now, is how wonderful for kids to know they are loved and wanted.

Of course there are also the other memories.  Like of all the times I was ready to give Dad away.  On several occasions I was ready to do "The Ransom of Red Chief" so someone else would take him!  Like when he would start counting with "crazy" numbers while I was working on a knitting pattern and counting.  Or when he would make some comment right in the middle of my sermon.  He loved to try to "get me" in the middle of the sermon!  The fun part is I could get him back!!

I was blessed to be Dad's primary care giver for 12 years.  We did ministry together for the 12 years.  There were trips - by car, plane and cruise ship.  There were Emmaus Walks to serve on Team together.  There was a LOT of teasing - and getting to each other.  Like I say....   Sometimes you have to laugh or you will start screaming!