The dog has been “playing” me for a while now. A lesson my husband and I know well is that one does not do something fun once with a herder. As she meets new friends, canine and human, she wants to go out twice every morning.
The second time, we said goodbye and waved to my husband, then went around the block or tried to. An elderly gent was having some trouble crossing the street. He was a proud man, well-dressed for 8:00 a.m. in trousers and natty wool jacket.
I thought he might be an Alzheimer’s patient from down the street and asked if I could help. He said no one can help. Even the doctors can’t help. Then he told me all his men died in WWII and he’s spent his life preserving the Constitution.
As I know he’s a proud man and nobody can help him, I continued on my walk and purposely ran into three professionals at the local physical rehab center that looks and feels like an old folks home. The two women ran off to find the man, who may be a patient, and the man said given my description this kind gent asked him once for a ride somewhere near here.
When I looked down the street before contacting the hospital staff, he was gone, and couldn’t have gone anywhere that fast. These ladies looked around everywhere and ran into me again, I described what he was wearing and they said “Hope it’s not Pops.”
I saw my 81 year-old Dad this weekend and never want him to end up like that. I tried my best for the situation but didn’t do enough. My heart breaks when I see this. “All my men died in WWII.” Now I must make sure that neighbors look out for him and that the local police know to drive him home. He was having trouble walking and all I, in my mind, wanted to do was take his arm and lead him home, wherever that may be. He would not be helped and I respect that. If I ever get to be that age I may do the same thing!
I know veterans and someone who’s just been called up. If there’s anything I can do for them, I will do so. Thanks for reading and being kind to our Vets. Dee
Cooking with Dee 
I found him and know his name. He walks to storage and spends time with his stuff. He’s a fixture in the neighborhood so I’ve thanked the nurses and now have wine storage (hope 56-57 degrees and 70% humidity is OK Dad because I can’t rival that at home, don’t have room for a wine cooler and had to pay for it for a year in advance). So now we have room for twelve cases. Never thought I’d have to tell you this but W, the WWII vet, is OK. Dee
You are kind soul, Dee. Yes, so sad what “W” had to endure. We can never do enough for our veterans.
My m-i-l is a nurse at a local VA and told me the next time I see him I should just ask about his story. She has to do the meds but I’m just a neighbor on the street and if he wants to chat, he’s more than welcome to do so. A cup of tea across the street sounds inviting. Thanks for writing in, hopefully Susan will see this as well.
Balloons! My husband orders balloons from Sweden and recently regaled his company’s children. They need to be stored in a dark, cool, humid space. How about we’re the first folks to put balloons in wine storage???