Some where my Love, there will be songs to sing…

Although the snow covers the hope of spring
I got the call, Brody was going home to San Jose, California.  Today was spent doing laundry, packing bags and goodbyes.  We took Brody to the airport today to meet his Dad.  Grandpa cried all the way home after dropping Brody off at the airport.  “Why didn’t you tell me it was Brody’s last day??”  “I didn’t get a chance to say good bye.”  Dad you said good bye to Brody two times with a hug.  “Why didn’t you tell me it was Brody’s last day??  I didn’t even get a chance to say good bye.”  Dad, Brody will be back again soon.  Don’t worry…

Somewhere a hill blossoms in green and gold
We had eaten dinner at Beppo di Bucco’s and enjoyed a mostly pasta meal.  Dad’s blood sugar would be very high and cause him to feel greatly disoriented and add to his memory loss. 

And there are greens all that your heart can hold
We  took his blood sugar when we got home.  It was 293.  Dad had gone off the reservation for at least an hour or two.  When he got his insulin, he became stable and seemed to function better. 

Someday we’ll meet again my love
I spoke to my DBL and we agreed that from this point forward, we couldn’t risk Dad eating foods with a lot of sugar in them.  We’d have to make sure Dad had a more balanced meal, to insure his blood sugar would remain stable.  We’ve notice that when his blood sugar is high this condition adds to his senility.  We usually do manage his diet anyways, but when we eat out we let him order what he wants.  We’d have to manage this more carefully from now on.  DS agreed. 

Someday whenever the spring breaks through
We’re going to miss Brody around here.  Playing with Keep away with Hanna (chocolate Labrador).  Long discussions with Grandpa (Brody doing most of the listening).  Lots of swimming in the pool.  Going to Disney’s Epcot.   It will be a los lonely Boys with out him. 

You’ll come to me out of the long ago warm as the wind soft as the kiss of snow
Brody we wish you well in School and with your friends.  We know you’re going to do a lot of good with your dad.  We wish you the best!!  Hugs and Kisses!!  xxoo

 

Many Thanks to Hank Snow for the use of his Lyrics “Somewhere my Love”.

“Those who do not know their history are doomed to repeat it… ”

Another day in Paradise…  Today, Monday, we started the day out as normal for a week day.  Dad was off to the Senior Center. 

I had heard some rumblings that Brody’s Dad may want him to return to California earlier than previously thought.  So, we began preparing Brody for his return trip.  Our visit with Brody had gone really well and we were going to miss him.  Later in the day, we mused about what to do on Brody’s last day here in Florida.  And guess what we decided??   We went to Disney’s Epcot. 

Naturally, by the time we got Epcot it was raining buckets.  Fortunately we had brought our Rain Ponchos.  As it was dinner time, we stopped for Dinner on the Boardwalk.  We ate at the “Big River” Restaurant on the Boardwalk.  We ordered some salads and burgers.  Dad and I split a burger.  Overall we really enjoyed the meal. 

The appetizer was a Cheesy Jalapeno Nachos

After dinner we debated about if we wanted to see the Fireworks show OR see the show at the American Adventure Display.  We voted for the later.  We all loved the Fireworks show, but lets face it, we had seen it at least six (6) times already.  

The American Adventure Show sounded very interesting.  And with Brody along, we thought it’d be important for his education as well. 

There was a small museum in the first part of the American Adventure Show.  There were pictures of Mark Twain, Benjamin Franklin, Cesar Chavez, along with a few small historical touch points behind glass.  Like Mark Twain’s’ humidor or a chair from Benjamin Franklin’s home.  In addition, on the walls you could often find great quotes from famous Americans.  Like the one (above, right) of Cesar Chavez.  I thought this is important because Cesar Chavez is from San Jose, California and we have a number of memorial statues of Mr. Chavez in San Jose.  He is well-known for his work in human rights. 

Later, the American Adventure show began.  Being Disney’s Epcot, one shouldn’t be surprised to learn that the story of America was told by these Anamatronics or Animated Figures, dressed and designed to look like actual historical figures.  The show opened with Benjamin Franklin and Mark Twain marveling over the growth of the country.  And admitting that our fore fathers had no idea that the country would grow so quickly and additionally credited our constitution for the tremendous strength of our country despite the changes.  The show was very well done and enjoyable.  But I worry how much of it was understood by my son.  Our history as a country is so very important.  And I realize that many of our young people today, are not getting a good education where our history is concerned.  This is important to me…  That our future generations understand our history and the price paid for their freedom.  “Those who do not know their history are doomed to repeat it… ” (unknown).

Anyway, we returned home about 11 pm and were tired from the walking and most of us (present company accepted) went straight to bed.

I believe I can fly…

I believe I can touch the sky
Today, was another crazy day.  No schools today because of the flooding.  No senior care for Dad for the same reason.  I finally made a dash out of the house in the afternoon to run to the library.  Needed to return some books.  The library was closed, so I dropped off the books I’d finished and kept the ones I wanted to renew. 

I think about it every night and day
In the evening we made a trip to Disney’s Epcot.  We had reservations for 6:10 pm.  We were a little late and they sat us after a short wait.  Dinner was at Tokyo Dining.  We had a very nice dinner.  Started out with a tuna roll as the appetizer.  I also had miso soup, my favorite!  And then we all had different entrees.  Mine was shrimp tempura.  It was delectable, the veggies and shrimp.  But it was delicious, and very relaxing.    The prices were reasonable.  They didn’t seem any higher than a similar meal in Mountain view, California (for those of you who remember I just moved here from California).  

Spread my wings and fly away
The only bad news is that Fay had dumped water all over Disney’s Epcot during dinner.   We all decided on a Disney’s rain ponchos for our after dinner-attire.  It was raining hard.  We don’t get rain that hard in California.  It’s truly amazing.  You get drenched down to the skin.  And then we walked around the park awhile and stayed to watch the fireworks show.  Which was as rewarding as it is every time we go to Epcot.  The rain finally ended right before the show.  And we headed towards home. 

I believe I can soar
For Dad this entire event was just another day in our vacation.   When he’s walking in the rain, he think’s he’s back in Korea during the war, marching in the mud.  And when he see’s the Fireworks with his family, he is grateful that we all can see such beauty.  And so am I.

I see me runnin’ through that open door
I believe I can fly
I believe I can fly
I believe I can fly

Many thanks to Disney and R. Kelley for the use of their lyrics. 

Upside, inside out she’s livin la vida loca

She’ll push and pull you down, livin la vida loca
Another day on vacation with Dad at Disney’s Epcot Center.  The picture on the left is of a Piano Man with a movable piano (notice bicycle wheel below his seat).  We found him on Disney’s Boardwalk, right before we enter Epcot.  He was singing “Happy Birthday” to the little girl in the right lower corner.  Followed by a Princess Medley…Someday my Prince will come…etc. 

Her lips are devil red and her skin’s the color mocha
We had another enjoyable day at Epcot.  We spent most of our time in Epcot’s France and England.  We ate Dinner at the ESPN restaurant on the Boardwalk.  It was a pleasant enough dinner.  During which we witnessed the ESPN.com radio show.  Which for me (a non-sports enthusiast) was marginally entertaining.  However, I was stung by a bee right before dinner and this raised the excitement level a good deal. 

She will wear you out livin la vida loca Come On!
Dad (at right is not laughing at my bee sting.) A rare moment when I caught Dad actually smiling on camera. 

Livin la vida loca, Come on!
While we were in France we stopped in a local bakery and picked up some Lemon Tarts.  Brody got an Apple turn over.  They were delicious!  After wards, we stopped by their information center to see a movie about France.  It was mostly pictures with a little commentary.  Very Beautiful.  We saw a balloon ride over the French Alps and took a journey down the Rivera.  After wards we each made a point of writing down in our To-Do journals “must see France in person”  And then we were off to England.  By this time it was already time for the Fireworks at evenings end to begin.  So we found a good place to view the fireworks and watch them again as if it were the first time. 

To the right a fountain in Epcot’s France.  Very wet and beautiful.