Sunday, December 18, 2011

Sunday Morning Reflections




In line at the post office, I talked to a man.
He told me he went down south to pick up his dad
who, suffering from dementia, was in a bad place.
The man told me his dad has fits of rage, falls down,
gets hurt, wanders off, police has to be called.




I asked the man if he could take care of himself 
in the midst of all this.
He said, “I always thought it weak to take pills,
now I take a Valium every morning 
just to make it through the day”




He told me his mom raised her kids by herself.
“What about your dad?” I asked
“I was terrified of my dad,” he said 
“and glad when he left.
He beat my mom and us children too.
I was very scared of him then.”




“And now you’re taking care of him?”
The man said, simply, “he’s my dad....”.

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