Fathers Day

Yes, I'm well aware that Fathers Day was a week ago. But, like fathers everywhere and throughout history have experienced, other stuff got in the way of my traditional celebration of pretty much doing nothing. So, I'm celebrating today. Started out the day by going to church, where we celebrated the 175th anniversary of our congregation, the first year of our new pastor, and our "Open and Affirming" status. It was a nice service, with folks from our community abnd other churches visiting. As happens regularly, I was reminded of the extensive network of spiritual support and concern that exists for Tim and our family.

Then I took a nap.

Had a snack.

Sat down in front of the computer and posted to the blog.

Fathers Day was not a total wash for me. In fact, there was some big news. Tim drove home on Saturday night to have dinner with me and Amy. I was working that evening, fulfilling my monthly "Manager on Duty" obligation at the Inn. At 8:00 or so, I went down to the dining room to meet them, but saw that only Amy was there. She let me know that Tim was on his way in, via the back entrance. His friend Jess is working in the Dining Room this summer, and I asked her to go say hello to him and bring him to our table. A few minutes later, they appeared - Tim was walking, using his walker. He didn't even bring his wheel chair. What a sight that was. After a great meal, he walked back out the same way he came in. Of course, that was pretty much the last I saw of him - he went out that night, got home way late, after having a good time with old friends, and slept the day away on Sunday (we did get to watch some of the Celtics game together that night). The greatest gift is to see him enjoying the kinds of things that a 19 year-old should be enjoying.

He's had other highlights over the past few weeks, including driving his van to the Fenway and wheeling over to the park to watch a game. He's discovered "new" accessible seats right next to the Sox bullpen, and that's where he likes to sit now. I think that he's been to five games now, sometimes alone and sometimes with a companion. Some of the staff invited Tim to join them at Ironsides pub in Charlestown to watch a game, and he took them up on it. "I didn't have a drink, but now I definitely understand why people like to get together in bars." The secret's out! He's still doing therapy three days a week, and is also taking advantage of a gym at Spaulding to work out on his own.

The other child perked me up on Sunday morning with a call from Ghana. We'll be picking Jancy up next Saturday and can't wait to see her and learn more about her time away. Tim will be joining us for that trip, and then we will go on a strange little journey to satisfy some cravings that have developed in Africa. Pizza lunch in Brooklyn with cousins; red meat, fried food and milk shakes at the Red Rooster in Brewster on the way home; and finishing up with Fried Rice and Happy Pancake at our local Vietnamese restaurant - Orient Express - on Sunday.

That's it for now. I think that I'll go for a walk with the dog - if I can make it past the TV.