Just Let Me Know!

April 12, 2010


Here are a few snippets of how today has gone…

Mom insisted on making pancakes this morning. She added eggs, half & half, and oil to the instant batter (just add water kind). Then she turned the skillet on high (which I went behind her and turned down). She mixed instant coffee, half & half and sugar in a cup of water then placed it in the microwave on 5 minutes when I went to the bathroom. I swear it looked like Mount Vesuvius had erupted in the darn thing. I cleaned up the mess and turned the heat down under the pancakes again. When she had 4 burnt-on-the-outside, barely-cooked-on-the-inside pancakes ready, she ate them and began to make more.
This time, when she had 4 ready she went to call Dad to breakfast. He told her he wasn’t ready to eat “just yet”, so while he was in the bathroom, she ate 2 more pancakes. I made a new batch of batter and started making him some more. Before I could get them on the plate, she came in and snagged the last 2. While she was eating, she had a dialogue going with the antique sewing machine. Her world is getting farther away.

Mid-afternoon, she exploded another cup of coffee in the microwave before deciding she wanted bread pudding. Dad insisted I let her do it herself. Unwilling to fight them, I cleaned out the microwave and stepped back until I was asked to “go away”. When I returned less than 15 minutes later, the bread pudding had exploded all over the inside of the microwave and Dad had a saucer with the sauce for the pudding on it. Mom had microwaved the sauce in its plastic cup for so long, it had melted the plastic and was now beyond description. She was insisting she was going to eat it. I informed her firmly, that she was NOT. When I pointed out to Dad that the plastic was almost entirely melted INTO the sauce, he agreed and threw it out. She was furious with both of us for wasting it!

While I was making dinner tonight (as he does every night), Dad asked what he could do to help. I pointed out there really wasn’t anything for him to do yet.
“Just let me know,” he cheerfully replied.
He sat down in his recliner and promptly got back up and came to the kitchen. “Can I do anything to help?”
“Not right now, Dad.”
“Just let me know,” and off he wandered.
The 3rd time he came in and asked, I suggested he go out on the front porch and enjoy the breeze. He replied, “I don’t feel like it. Is there anything I can do to help you?”
“Sorry, Dad. Dinner should be done soon.”
“Well, just let me know.”
The next time he enquired I suggested he go water the plants. His reply? “Nobody lets me help with anything.”
“But, Dad, I’m sure the plants need watering. It would help me a lot.”
He got the water pitcher out of the cabinet and proceeded to fill it with water. He then carried it to the bar and set it down. “Sweetheart, is there anything I can do to help you?”
“You could water the plants.”
“Sure,” he replied as he removed drinking glasses from the cabinet.
“How many for dinner tonight?” he asked.
“Four,” I replied.
He carried the glasses to the table and cheerfully set the table for 5. He then returned to the kitchen and asked, “Is there anything I can do to help?”
“No, Sir. It will be ready in just a few minutes.”
“Ok. Just let me know.”
With a smile, he retrieved the water pitcher and filled the glasses on the table. When he was done, he left the room in search of Mom (to let her know dinner was almost ready). I discreetly removed one place setting and put out their evening meds.
On his return, Dad again asked what he could do to help. I told him it was time to eat. He informed me (as he does every night) that when dinner was over he wanted me to disappear so he could clean the kitchen. And as I do every night, I assured him I would.

*** Just a side note… My 3 year old grand daughter, Ayla, has recently developed a penchant for saying not yet. To her, “not yet” means “not now, or later, or in a little while”
“Nonni, me help you?”
“In a little bit, Sweetie.”
“Not yet?” she asks.
I smile, “Not yet.”
To which she will cheerfully reply, “Just let me know!” I can’t imagine where she gets it from…