Today my daddy, our dad, turns 75.

Seems lately I get stuck with the fact how life can change for people in just a split second.  One minute of happiness may change for many in a blink of an eye.  It bugs me, has been bugging me.  As I know a lot of people lately that have gone through a life changing second.  

Our second happened Tuesday.   I gave Dad my normal morning call on the way to work.  I call in the morn, Lyn in the evening.  It is our tag team system.  He sounded great, we laughed, he complained about a few things as usual, I complained back....our typical morning routine.  I hung up after our I love yous, thinking how good he sounded.  It is easy to read how he is doing by the sound of his voice.

 I ran to do some morning business and came back out to a message from Lyn. I could tell something was wrong of course right away.  Jess was in the Valley with Dad.  It is weening and shipping time and Jess was going to gather so this weekend we could trail.  He found Dad unconscious by the door.  The nearest ambulance is in Lima thirty miles away.  Lucky for many, they have an air ambulance system that will fly to the Valley from Idaho.  Only problem being the weather that day was not good so Jess had to wait for the ambulance to come and meet the copter half way on the other side of the pass.  Lyn and I quickly made a plan and she left while I stood on stand by.

It was a long couple of hours with lots of calls back and forth from Jess, to Lyn, to me.  And finally a call that he was more stable  with help from the oxygen.  Our family in Idaho met the copter and Jess. Needless to say,  a very long day with lots of communication whether to come or stay. They could make no determination on what had happened but decided to sedate him and put in a ventilator to help him breath.  We decided it was best if I stuck here with Keni and the store until we knew what was going on.

Lucky for us our second changed a bit yesterday with a text from Lyn that he was breathing on his own and had opened his eyes and recognized her.   I am heading later this afternoon (weather permitting it is SNOWING THERE) to spend the weekend, give Lyn some clothes, some work to do, (she is going a bit stir crazy) and hopefully make a plan for next week.

And while I know how seconds change everything I remember how grateful we are.  I can't even tell you how fortunate we are to have friends and family that continue to look after us.  Our Valley neighbors were at Dad's right away.  And we, of course, have had calls that if we need anything with the getting the cattle moved they are there to help. Our Idaho friends have checked in with Lyn and offered places to stay.  Dad's old friends have checked in as well.  It never ceases to amaze me the friends that we have  at home.  Friends that have looked over us "kids" for many years.  And how grateful I am to call the Valley home.

  So we now wait for Dad's birthday celebration, a silly planned trip to Blackfoot. ( a local gambling casino he likes to go to) of which Lyn had planned to surprise and take him today...hey it's the small things.  The cattle are being gathered, and for this second life goes on........

I love you Dad.  Happy 75!!! Can't wait till your back home, DRIVING ME CRAZY about sitting in front of this computer blogging!!!!

 

Comments

[Tracy J]

Oh gosh...hope he is recovering by the second and that he has many more birthdays to celebrate. You both and your Dad are in my prayers!

[jaymee]

so happy he's okay!! : )

[Suzanne Dean]

Give your Dad a big hug - pray that all is well now so he can celebrate his 75th year.

Tom & Suzanne Dean

[Suzanne]

Sydney sent the sad news that your Dad has passed. Our deepest condolences go to both you girls and your family. I know you will miss him greatly.

Suzanne