A lot’s happened in the last 15 days, since New Year’s Eve when my dad had a stroke. It’s rather surreal when I stop to ponder.  But there hasn’t been too much time for that.

Funny, you don’t think about what it means to take over someone’s life and be responsible for everything related to their care, until you’re thrust into that sort of situation.  It’s one thing to take care of children.  That activity presents it’s own set of challenges.

But with aging parents, it’s a whole different kettle of fish.

There is a LOT to do.  That said, my brother and I have been a good team handling all the affairs related to the stroke episode itself, our father’s health, rehabilitation, care for our mother, their bills, their current living arrangements, making future arrangements, etc.

There are several things that need attention under each of those categories.  Then again, it’s nothing that a good, well-managed to-do list and regular, open communication can’t assist with.  Seems like we’ve had more text messages and emails exchanged in the last month than in the last five years.  And the Reminders function on my mobile and electronic to-do list in Everynote have been a godsent.

The good news is that dad’s doing better.  He’ll need help with most everything in his life now, all the “activities of daily living”, as they’re called.  But his attitude seems to be improving.  He smiled a few times the last time I saw him.  That’s a good thing.

The good news also is, we’ve got new living arrangements established for our parents and they’ll be back together in a new place pretty soon.  That’s been the most pressing matter.  As all the tasks related to that activity get checked off, there’re other things to attend to.  The key is, take one step at a time and remember:

Even a thousand mile journey can only be taken one step at a time.  And quite a journey this has been.

Onward.