Emails and Waffles

It’s no secret Dad has a sweet tooth. The apple didn’t fall far from the tree with regards to this as my Oma had a wicked sweet tooth. We got Dad a waffle maker for Christmas. More a kitchen gadget for me to play with than anything else, it allows me to prepare a different sweet breakfast that’s not pancakes or French toast.

As is my daily workday routine, I typically call Mom and Dad in the morning, around lunchtime and then again in the afternoon. What can I say, I like to make sure everything runs smoothly. Today I called around lunchtime to make sure, well, that they were having lunch. Mom answered and told me Dad had already eaten. He had made waffles for himself. I was ecstatic! When he was at Stillwater, in the skilled nursing facility last year, they tried to get him to cook right before he was discharged. It didn’t work out so well. Since he’s been home, he hasn’t really had the desire or ambition to want to cook, although he has managed to help out with keeping an eye on things heating up on the stovetop.

Now who would think something like making waffles would be such a great feat to marvel at, but it is in my opinion. Think of all the steps involved. Dad had to move the waffle maker from one counter to another, get out a mixing bowl and all the ingredients, mix it all together, figure out how to use the machine, make the waffles and not burn them. He did all of that with a limp and the use of his left arm only.

I cannot stress enough how hearing things like this make every day new, exciting and filled with boundless hope.

PJ had taken Dad to speech therapy last week and mentioned to his newest therapist Kate, that Dad had become quite proficient on the computer prior to his stroke. It was something we tried to get him to use in the early months after the stroke to no avail. Kate was very enthusiastic about getting Dad to use the computer again after hearing this and they were to try it this week.

This afternoon I received an email from PJ, forwarded from Dad.

Always remember, when you think you can’t, you can.