My husband must think I am nuts. I think I need to travel out west to actually SEE my uncle. And I think we need to do it over the July 4th long weekend. Just the 2 of us. 1400 miles one way. We can do it. The plan is to leave Friday afternoon and drive as far as we can. Bonus if we make it to Memphis area as that is about the halfway point. Drive the rest of the way on Saturday and arrive at my uncle’s apartment late afternoon. We can access the storage unit situation and get it cleaned out. I can make sure my uncle has everything he needs grocery wise and fingers crossed we can do a round of doctors appointments on Monday before starting to head back east to return home on Tuesday. Easy, right? 2800 miles in 4 days. Cake walk, right? Needless to say, my husband wasn’t too thrilled at the idea. But he made me a deal. It all centered around the doctor’s appointments. If I could indeed get last minute appointments with at least TWO doctors he would be all in. Clearly, he had no faith in my begging. Doctors’s appointments made. And to make things even better – I was able to take him to his monthly probation appointment and I made an appointment for the divorce attorney. We left for our big road trip that Friday.
My uncle was VERY surprised to see us. His apartment was very bare. He had his chair, his TV (a rather big one) and a bed on the floor. We had our work set out for us. Step one: clean and set up apartment. Done.
Storage unit – now that was going to be a trick. I had to get it 100% cleaned out as we can’t afford the rent anymore. I rented a truck for us to use to help get items to my uncle’s apartment and if needed Goodwill. The trouble is – I needed muscle. Where was I going to find that?
Dear God, Thank you so much for your blessings in helping me get my uncle started in his new life. If it is your will, please lead me to some individuals that can help make my dream happen. Help me get my uncle back on his feet again. I cannot do this alone.
That Sunday, my husband and I went to church (remember an old friend of ours is a priest out there). It is a small church so my husband and I stuck out like a sore thumb. In our conversations as to “what brought you to our neck of the woods,” a Boy Scout leader came up to us. Turns out the troop was in need of items that my uncle had in the storage unit. And it turns out they had a truck. Two trucks actually. And boys. With muscle. Prayer answered. At the storage unit I also got to meet my guardian angel and his family. They were such a blessing!
In a span of about 3 hours, I was able to go through the storage unit, determine what I needed to take to my uncle’s apartment, what would be donated and what the Boy Scout troop could use. I was exhausted and I cried a lot. How can you take a man’s life and water it down to this? No time for tears now. Must keep moving. Step Two: Clean out storage unit. Done.
Monday was time for doctors and attorneys. The probation officer appointment was good, but really weird. It is going to take me a while to get used to that. I was pleased to meet the attorney. He was equally as nice in person as he was on the phone. I think we are going to have a wonderful relationship. And even the two doctors went well. My uncle has lost some weight, but we are going to say it is part of the “bachelor look.” My husband went to the grocery store and got easy things for my uncle to cook. Step Three: doctors and food. Done.
Our mission was accomplished. I was feeling good about everything we had done. It only happened by the grace of God and the help of lots of people. So, alas it was time to head back east. Exhausted and full of tears we got in the car and headed back home.
Caregiver Musings 