I just have to tell you this separately
H and I are pretty much by ourselves going through old age. As I have said, his adult daughter lives 5 miles away and never shows - once this year when she wanted H to give her son our zero turn lawnmower because he just bought a house and needed one. Her conclusion was that since H has a difficult time, she should give it FREE to her adult son and, ready?, we should HIRE someone to come and cut the lawn once or twice a week!
But I digress. The reason for this post is to say that there are good people out there. We have a really good neighbor across the street. This evening he watched for my H to hobble out to take the garbage can to the street (we have a good distance driveway) and came out to do it for him!
When H came in and told me that I started to cry. His daughter won't do a darn thing for him because she is too busy, etc., but the guy across the street does something like this.
The neighbor's dad is about H's age and has walking problems too. In fact he fractured his hip and broke his arm this week in a fall. They spent the week up in Indianapolis where he is being treated until they get him into a nursing home.
By contrast his daughter, when he was in the hospital 16 months ago for a heart issue, only came by to try to get him to sign a new will leaving everything to her. Sorry, the difference is so great I just had to tell someone.
This neighbor has done things for us in the past, like shovel the snow off the driveway, and sometimes he beats H out in cutting the grass. This is a religious man who lives his religion and the world needs more like him.
I can tell you that this neighbor will bring the trash can back before we even get up in the morning. He has done that for us before. He asks for nothing and will take nothing.
As I said, quite a contrast between him and H's daughter who is either too busy or wants something for free.
Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Caregivers Support Group.
This act of kindness really impacted me.
Last night I put the left-over spaghetti sauce in a container and H was to put it in the refrigerator. This afternoon I am looking all over the refrig. for it, can't find it. Finally located it in the microwave. Instead of putting the container in the refrigerator he put it in the microwave! Doesn't have a clue how it got there because he put it in the refrigerator. Told me I must have moved it there.
Same thing with the thermostat last night. It has been getting cool, and we put the heat on in the evening and he turns it down before going to bed (I've been told that is HIS job). This morning he asks me why I turned the thermostat up in the night, that it was too hot. I didn't do anything, but in his mind it must have been me. And so it goes. I don't bother arguing with him about what happened, just let it go, but I did note it down for the Doc.
Please bear with me when I mention his daughter - as I told my PCP, she scares the begesus out of me.
@kartwk
I am so sorry for this road of suffering you are on with H. It is so hard to endure! I thank you for telling us about your neighbor and his kindnesses. It reminds all of us to take a breath, look around, and help out! Knowing that it can mean so much to the recipient is not only touching, but inspiring. Thank you!
@babbsjoy
Thank you. We have to remember that there ARE good people out there.
And YES, this neighbor, bless him, had the trash can back in its place before we got up this morning.