Two days ago on Wednesday, we had another unpleasant experience. Dad was to receive his 65-year pin and certificate from the Masonic lodge. They went to Mountain Valley to present it. We were scheduled to meet at 3:00 pm. I left the house before Kate in order to get Dad dressed for the occasion. As I was driving out of the driveway, I realized it had been a while since she had been to Mountain Valley. I called her to make sure she knew how to get there. I gave her instructions. While Dad and I were waiting for her and the Masons, I received a call from her. She was lost though pretty close. I gave her instructions again. When she didn’t show up on time, we went ahead with the ceremony. After the Masons left, I called her and got no answer. I called several times. I even texted her to call me. She finally called me. This was now about 3:30 or later. She was located further away than when we spoke earlier. I told her to wait for me, and I would get her.
I got there and asked her to follow me back to Mountain Valley. I also set the address in her GPS but didn’t realize the sound was off. Just before getting to back to Life Care, I made a right turn. There was one car in between us. She didn’t see me turn. I called and called her but got no answer. It turned out that she had put her purse with her phone in my car thinking that she would drive back with me instead of following me. (I don’t know what she thought about how we would get her car back.) Finally she called me from a phone at a car wash that was about 2/10 of a mile from where I was waiting at a gas station. I told her to stay put and I would walk to her and drive her in her car back to where I was. I did so and then she followed me back to Dad’s where we visited with him while he ate his dinner. When we left, she was feeling quite low. I told her I was going to take her to dinner at Hathaway’s, something we do frequently on Wednesday nights. She was pleased. We had a nice evening together, but it was a frustrating afternoon for both of us.
The experience makes me concerned about her driving anywhere. She can get lost at any time. She has resolved to start using the GPS more regularly, but I am worried she will not be able to remember how to use it. This is just a small sign of what lies ahead. It’s going to be a rough road.
