The Lucknow Sentinel, 1991-12-23, Page 31,X.411W:
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Home for Christmas
- by the Kinloss Gentleman
The old man surveyed his decorations with a small
touch of pride. The season had always made him feel
good but this year he was slightly melancholy. The
coffee in Its familiar 11 • 44p4r 444,
use aslie eased his bulk down to the waiting
embrace of his armchair. The house was quiet, with
only the radio playing the usual Christmas fluff in the
background. Ho wondered absently if someone was
going to see Mommy kissing Rudolph under a blue
Christmas tree. Things were so out of whack now it
wasn't funny, only sad. This was his first Christmas
without her.
He sipped his coffee and for the millionth time
visualized his "wife and former sweetheart' Rachel.
For SO years they had shared bed and breakfast and
she left an enormous void in his life when she died a
few months ago. For the millionth time he raised his
mug in silent salute to his love and took another sip.
He looked around the room, remembering other
Christmases, their first one together, other ones like
the Christmas they gave their son a bike they couldn't
afford. He really loved that bike. It met it's Waterloo
when he rode it off the shed roof. Why the bike
landed on the rocks and the kid in the manure pile
he'd never know,
Ah, yes... his son. There had been a vague feeling
of uncertainty the last couple of times he'd been over.
The old man thought his son had been hinting that he
sell out. "Shouldn't you be taking it a bit easier pdT_
he'd said. He was "making Subtle referenc,es to 75
years and still kicking.
"I still have my health," he thought, "I can probably
outwork men half my age." He wasn't bragging, just
stating a fact. Did his son honestly think he'd be
happy in a retirement home? He thought of Walt.
_Good old Walt. Walt, his boyhood pal, the guy bed
shared his feelings with, his first beer and cigarette,
the blame for something Walt's kid brother had done.
Good old Walt went to a retirement home. At first
he'd say, "This is pretty good. Joe, the staff is just
great, the place is clean, the food's good. I don't do
dishes." Then changes took place. Walt thought his
children must, be getting busier, they didn't come to
see him as often. "You come, Joe. Don't forget old
Walt, now." The old man never forgot. He'd drive
Rachel to the grocery store where she'd say as she
got out of the truck,. "Now don't you old fogies
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gossip all afternoon and leave me here 'Middling my
thumbs.' That twinkle in her eye said how she
understood Joe's need to be with his friend for a little
while. Then he'd head-tkoAliligg
vi 'Utetiiii spent seemed to drag more and
more. They'd reminisce for a time, then Walt ivold
look off into the distance for long minutes. He'd
forget what he Was saying. Then, Shortly after Rachel
died Walt looked up at him with a quizzical express-
ion, "Do I know you, Mister?" and slowly turned and
walked into his own, unapproachable world. It nearly
broke Joe, but Katie was there. He had leaned on his
little granddaughter throughout those ordeals but he
did not want to live in an institution of any kind.
"Hi, Grampal Did I wake you up? The decorations
look really good. There's the one I made for you last
year. Can I hang this one on the tree'?"
"Only if you hang a hug on this raggy old body
first." The young girl mated excited as she squeezed
her grandfather and scooted to the tree, deciding on
the exact location to render her creation the most
effective.
"Hi Poppa Joel Sorry to barge in like this but Katie
just bad to deliver her decoration -to you."
'111„tian. Want some coffee?" When his daughter-
in-law smiled and 'nodded he picked up his half cup
of cooled liquid and rose to wait on her. He found
himself thinking -how if he'd designed and built a girl
19,33e a palitter_for.,his..son,-shee—remarkablr
ar- to Jan. Did Mark come with you? She said
he'd be in soon and took the coffee into the living
room, chatting lightly.
"Did you talk to him?" Katie asked.
"Ummm... No... Poppa Joe," she began softly.
"Mark wants to talk to you. Please give him a fair
hearing. He really feels strong!), about this and ...
'Mb -hesitated, moved closer to him, "so do L"
•
"This is it," he thought. He searched her face for a
clue to his son's questions but found none. As he
turned toward the kitchen, he said aloud, "I'll try." A
lump was forming in his throat as he retreated to the
relative safety of the counter beside the sink. A
moment later his son Mark entered. His arms were
laden with two boxes of the single -portion meals Jan
had made for him. "I'll just put these in the freezer,"
he said and cleared his throat.
"Well, at least he's uncomfortable," thought Joe and
then said, "I'll give you a hand."
The old man and his son went into the next room,
down the hall, where the ancient freezer went about
its duty et preserving whatever was left in its hold, as
it had for the last 30 years.
"Dad," Mark began.. "We've been doing a lot of
thinkhig. These meals are a bit of trouble to make and
bring over all the time, but worse than that, they have
to be eaten alone. I, that is, we, think you should be
around people more. You don't use half the house as
it is." They put the last meals into the frosted
recesses. "Even this old freezer is on its last legs. The
washer, dryer and stove came with Champlain and are
using twice the energy they should."
Anger and resentment were.building within him as
the old man replied, 1114 because something is old
doesn't mean it's useless." •
"Dad, that's not what I meant, it's not what I'm
trying to say."
"You want me in a HOME!" Joe almost spat his
words.
Katie burst into the room "Did he say yes, Dad, did
he?" then stopped in surprise at the look on her
beloved grandfather's face.
"Yes," said Mark quietly ignering his daughter,
"Our home." We've prepared a mom -and all, but I
know how much you love this place. Just try it for
Christmas. Please, Dad, give it a chance. We can
make it work. Katie hasn't stoppeditalking about
`when Grampa's living with us' since we came up
with the idea. What do you say?"
k-VAVAVAVAVAVAVCN)VNVAVAV'AtWlgAWM,
ueknow Seutinel2 and 1)e mber 2%1991 P e 15A
THE
LUCKNOW
hoping Cht4tmos hnid0:;,; *
way happy surprises hi
• iteto for ynu, 0.4 ny to. tbe'
• lullOott
Bev and Don
Thompson
lrNpsttTiOtp.
52842213
We'r taking time
to say' "thanks" f�r
410041**4.4es4---
40,464:16'-'hOe.
ioti".a-'CiStomers
and proUdlo\cali
you our friends.
MD 0
Have A Merry Christmas
The Stove Connection
and General Store
RR #2 LUCKNOW 529-1019
Peace Joy
As the holiday infolds in all its mystery
and beauty, may you experience
the warmth of the season.
Merry Christmas
and
many
thanks.
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Design consultation available year round.
Management & Staff of
diu.ton 2andlaayng 2imitact
.R. 2 Lucknow. 529-7247
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