Alan’s Army

Sorry, fell asleep again.

Saturday night I went to bed thinking “If it’s sunny in the morning I will start making a dent in the five yards of mulch before going to the hospital.  But if it’s raining, I will start making a dent in Alan’s room in preparation for him coming home.”  So at 8am I was laying in bed trying to convince myself that I could fall back asleep (I can’t actually do that unless I’m sick) when the phone rang and it was Uncle Dan - “You up?  Are you doing the mulch?  I can be there in 20 minutes.”. Well that decided that.  Apparently Dan then called his girls at his ex’s to let them know he wouldn’t be at Sunday School if Nancy dropped them off at the church as usual. 

Dan and I got as far as two of the front yard trees mulched when in pulled Aunt Nancy with Dunkin Donuts and the girls, Emily and Sami. After racing into Amber’s room to wake her up, the girls pitched in on the mulch. With farm-girl Nancy cracking the whip, all five yards of mulch had been distributed and I had placed an order with Agway for a second five yard bale — all by 11 o’clock.  In the process we also filled in the groundhog hole under the porch.

During this time Uncle Brian walked over to deliver some pie that Elsie had made and I told him about the groundhog so he then brought over a have-a-heart trap.  Hearing that groundhogs like sweet things, Sami quickly baited the trap with a Jelly donut.

As we were getting ready to go to the hospital Ginny saw two groundhogs out in the backyard.

Alan had a busy day today with visitors.  Ginny and I got there about 1:30 and shortly thereafter Aunt Dari arrived with a huge box of Philly pretzels.  We nuked a bunch and ate them with spicy brown mustard - yumm!!!  The rest went to the nursing staff.  Then Uncle Dan arrived and after Dari took off we took Alan out for his “hour of freedom.”. While outside, Aunt Nancy arrived with Emily, Sami, and Amber (who had gone to their house after the mulching.)  Alan also took calls from Nan and Bob Enman, our dear friends in Maine.  Three high school friends next showed up - Evan Staats, Brian Bibbo, and Anthony Sitoy bringing along mozzarella sticks from Burger King.  (BTW - had I previously mentioned my discovery that the grille downstairs in the hospital actually has mozzarella sticks? - no more Macy’s runs for Uncle Dan and I!)

Amber and I ordered dinner at the grille and brought it up and we all ate at a table in the hallway outside Alan’s room.  While waiting at the grille, Kit arrived and helped carry the food upstairs.  She also had a disc that all the players at Saturday’s tournament had signed for Alan.  Alan had a great time laughing about shared high school/scouting anecdotes with the boys while eating. 

Alan is feeling pretty good and eating and drinking everything within reach.  His vision is his greatest frustration as it is what is limiting his abilities.  More than once he said “If it wasn’t for my vision I’d be home already.”

BOB couldn’t get out of work on time to visit so he called and spoke with Alan as we packed up to go.  Ginny, Amber, and I left at about 8:20 leaving Uncle Dan with a little bit of time for scripture and prayers with Alan.

We got home and there was five more yards of mulch on the tarp in the driveway, the hole under the porch was dug back out, and the trap had a captive Jelly doughnut.  I covered the mulch, spat in the hole, and re-baited the trap with half a pear.

The trap was still empty this morning — I suppose I should go buy some more petunias to bait it with.

Best to all and thanks for your continued support,

Andrew