May 13, 2007

May 13, 2007 was supposed to be just an ordinary day. It was Mother's Day and beautiful outside. All over the United Sates, people were honoring their moms. Taking them out, showering them with flowers and homemade cards.

I wasn't able to wake up to Grace giving me breakfast in bed, because I was in Shreveport with my mom and dad. I gave mom a gift, but instead of going somewhere nice for lunch, or a cozy breakfast in bed, she and I spent the day at the hospital.

Two days before, I was a little worried about my dad. I mean, he was still on the ventilator and getting dialysis and had so many tubes coming and going everywhere. I thought for a few minutes that day that I might be there a while.

Then, he seemed to start getting better. Slowly, the amount of drugs hooked to his central line started to lower. He woke up and recognized us and even signed a little bit to us. I remember watching his hands make the "I love you" and the "I love you with hugs and kisses" signs. He communicated as best he could. Telling us each that he loved us, asking where people were, blinking yeses and nos to our questions.

So, on Mother's Day, after the lunch time visit, I decided to go home. I thought that I could see Grace for Mother's Day, spend my birthday at home and then go on a date for my anniversary. I thought that I would come back the following weekend and see Daddy. I figured by then he would be up and moving about and talking and joking again.

Little did I know that the ordinary Mother's Day that I woke up to would become something extraordinary. The last time I ever saw my daddy alive. The last time I kissed his head and squeezed his hand. One of the last things I said was "I will see you next week, Daddy. I love you."