A Conversation with Dad...

Dad: How old are you now Michelle?

Me: 51

Dad: How old?

Me: 51

Dad: Really!?

Me: Yep

Dad: I didn't realize you were that much older than Verna and I

Shoelaces...

Every time I slip a pair of shoes with laces off or on without untying them first, I hear dad's voice telling me I'm going to ruin my shoes. It always bugged dad to see me just slip my shoes on or off without undoing the laces, and he was always sure to tell me that I was going to ruin them.

Because he can still dress himself with prompts we usually aren't in the room with him as he puts on his shoes, but I am often in his room with him as he gets undressed and ready for bed. One night about a month ago as he was getting ready to take off his shoes, the laces were knotted then wrapped around his ankle and knotted again. At the time it didn't really dawn on me that he couldn't remember how to tie a bow, so he just tied a knot and then wrapped the extra length of the laces around his ankle. Then on a couple of other evenings I noticed that he had tied his shoelaces in a knot and tucked them into his shoe. That's when the light-bulb went on and I realized he's forgetting how to tie his shoes. Now if I'm in his room as he's tying his shoes, I'll volunteer to do it for him. 

Yesterday we were all busy getting ready for church, so I just laid out dad's clothes and went to finish getting myself ready. When I came back to check on him, he was ready to go and his shoes had bows!