NO soda left behind

Over the Easter weekend my son and I went by Erik's room.  He was his old teasing self.  When I saw this picture of the two of us I thought that I looked like a giant standing next to Erik.  He's always been a short, stocky guy but lately he seems shorter somehow.   I know I haven't grown taller.

Anyway I was a little worried about him as I left for a week-long vacation with my hubby.  I called and checked on him and heard that he was doing well ... except for one day when he kept pointing to the front doors with a sad expression on his face.  The receptionist there was wonderful.  She asked if he missed me and gave him a big hug.  What a blessing the staff has been to him - and to me.

Well, we returned from our trip and  I had to go see Erik right away to get his laundry AND to let him know we hadn't forgotten his birthday.   He turned 52 while we were on our trip.   Erik used to anticipate his birthday for months, always reminding me of it whenever we talked, I mean EVERY time we talked.   Now after speaking to him about his birthday when I got back I'm not even sure he knew what I was talking about.  
Anyway we had a plan to celebrate the occasion - whether he understood what it was or not.   We (hubby and I) went by his room with a gift from mom. Inside was a new shirt and cap.  He wanted to put them on right away.  Doesn't he look great?

So handsome for a 52 year old.

We told him we were taking him out to dinner.  That got him excited!  We got into our van and drove to Appleby's.  He was thrilled to be going to a restaurant.   When we sat down we looked at the menu and I pretty much knew what he'd like, a cheeseburger.  So we ordered that and he was smiling and winking at us, so happy!!  He got his soda and then his burger and fries.   Toward the end of the meal he made a motion to me like he was drinking a soda and I thought he was telling me he wanted to take the rest of his soda back home so I asked the waiter to bring a to-go cup.  The waiter said he'd bring a fresh soda in a to-go cup.   He did and it was time to leave.  But Erik was not leaving without finishing his first soda.  He gulped it down. There would be NO soda left behind.   We left and got into the car with his fresh soda.   Hubby and I were a little concerned that he not have too much to drink because lately he's had a hard time making it to the bathroom in time, especially when he's had lots to drink.  So I kept the fresh soda in the backseat, thinking he'd forget about it - hoping he would.  I know, horrible sister.   


Well, we got back to his home and, then guess what!   He refused to leave the van.  He sat there, arms crossed, grinning, listening to our pleas to "come on, Erik, time to go".  He just sat.  Nothing would get him to move UNTIL I retrieved the to-go soda out of the backseat and held it outside the van!  Then he got out and we went in, all while he was laughing at us.   That stinker!   We went to his room and got him situated and we started playing with his Dallas Cowboy football.  He was acting so tough, throwing it very hard at my hubby and then looking at him with a tough guy look and laughing.

We never know what out visits with Erik will be like.  This visit was confusing on many levels but that's kind of 'what it is' now.   The following night a family party was held at his home. Entertainment and refreshments.  They're always fun.  So we went.  Erik absolutely loved the singing, he sang right along, loudly, with tears in his eyes.  He tried to eat a cupcake. I rescued the paper part of it right before it went in with all the rest, his fingers, clothes and face totally covered in cupcake.  Oh my goodness.   One day I saw him with the snack they gave everybody, some banana bread cubes and orange slices.  Before I could prevent it, he took the orange slice and ate it, rind and all!  


Today I got a call that his belt broke and he was pretty upset about it.   I'll be buying him a new one first thing tomorrow.  Life with Erik is not boring.