{This is an excerpt of a post I published in May of 2012, after my grandfather passed away. I wrote it a month before he died.)
I began visiting him at the rehab facility, with trepidation. I am not an “old people” person. I’m afraid of offending their sensibilities. I worry about not being able to hear them or understand them. I suppose I don’t give them nearly enough credit. Diminished physical capacity doesn’t always mean that intellectual capacity has suffered the same fate. Often, sure, but not always. I started out with small talk: “How are you feeling today? Are they taking care of you? Are you getting what you need?” Grandpa Sol is a quiet guy, and with a paralyzed vocal cord, conversation is difficult for him, I think. His voice comes out raspy, jagged, the effort visible. He’s not used to my speech impediment. He says, “We have to talk more often. So I can get used to the way you talk.”
Your post brought me to tears having just last year gone through this same thing with my dad who passed away in July, 2013. It's difficult to watch them, sad to see them confused and angry and wanting nothing more than to go home. Beautiful post, I hope you continue to visit him and that your children become more comfortable with him and give him hugs and kisses. Keeping Grandpa Sol in my thoughts.
Hi, Alicia. Thanks! He actually died the day I originally published this..I had written it a month before. I guess I should clarify that.