Harry's flight has been arranged and Uncle Mark and I decided together that there will be certain accommodations made to help him navigate his way through the airport. We set up a wheelchair and a few other things we thought Harry might need when he's flying. I don't want him having any issues or excuses. I want him to be completely rested and relaxed.
Having these accommodations set up ahead of time is well worth the effort. I don't want Harry struggling his way through the airport, so we made sure any and all accommodations are in place before he gets there. Of course, I haven't told him these accommodations are there for him, I think I'll wait until the day before he flies to inform him that he'll be getting assistance. He'll probably tell me he doesn't need them, but I'll let him know he has no choice in the matter, it was all Mark's idea, not mine.
Besides, calling the day before on Uncle Vern and Aunt Fern's birthday(s) will be a good reason to let him know about it. Besides, if I let him know too soon I think he'll fret about it and I certainly don't want him fretting!
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Wow. Making arrangements to have Harry come live with us have not been easy. It has been quite a feat indeed. Nothing has fallen together for this and I'm getting stressed. The logistics are not falling in place and I'm beginning to wonder if this was even meant to be.
Arrangements are sort of in order to get Harry from Libby to the airport in Kalispell. But getting the ticket isn't so easy. We can't afford to buy his ticket, but we will be able to pick him up at the airport.
Now I have nothing to worry about. All the arrangements have been made and nearly finalized. The only thing left to take care of is having Mark book the flight and Harry paying Mark. Whoa. It's all falling together, when just over 30 minutes ago I was starting to think it would never happen.
Boy was I wrong and I'm glad!
****FINAL UPDATE****
It's official. Harry is coming to live with us permanently on June 7th. He'll be arriving in Phoenix at 9:43 p.m. James, Carli and I will go pick him up at the airport. I can't wait to see him.
Now all that's left is finding suitable doctors for him, a bed, dressers, bedsheets, pillows, etc. He doesn't want a television in his room, which is ok with us. He'd rather be out in the living room with the rest of the family. Fine by me. I'd rather have him out in the living room with us too. Oh and getting him on our lease here at the house. I'm pretty sure Howard won't mind. There are probably lots of other things I can't possibly think of right now - but they'll come up and we'll take care of them as they do.
Arrangements are sort of in order to get Harry from Libby to the airport in Kalispell. But getting the ticket isn't so easy. We can't afford to buy his ticket, but we will be able to pick him up at the airport.
Now I have nothing to worry about. All the arrangements have been made and nearly finalized. The only thing left to take care of is having Mark book the flight and Harry paying Mark. Whoa. It's all falling together, when just over 30 minutes ago I was starting to think it would never happen.
Boy was I wrong and I'm glad!
****FINAL UPDATE****
It's official. Harry is coming to live with us permanently on June 7th. He'll be arriving in Phoenix at 9:43 p.m. James, Carli and I will go pick him up at the airport. I can't wait to see him.
Now all that's left is finding suitable doctors for him, a bed, dressers, bedsheets, pillows, etc. He doesn't want a television in his room, which is ok with us. He'd rather be out in the living room with the rest of the family. Fine by me. I'd rather have him out in the living room with us too. Oh and getting him on our lease here at the house. I'm pretty sure Howard won't mind. There are probably lots of other things I can't possibly think of right now - but they'll come up and we'll take care of them as they do.
Sunday, May 16, 2010
So, it's been decided. Harry is coming to stay. Now we just need to figure out how to get him here. That has not been an easy task. I checked for train schedules...nothing. The website for Amtrak is completely and utterly useless, not user friendly, at all. So, no train.
I checked the Greyhound bus schedule. At least I could navigate my way around the site, but there is no way I'm having Harry spend almost two complete days (yes, 48 hours) on the bus with 4 transfers, the longest of which would be in LVNV for 4 and a half hours and only being 6 hours from us - what's the point? Besides, the same thing that happened to Carli and I when we went to Pendleton could happen to him. He could get stuck in LVNV for way longer than 4 and a half hours - especially if the bus driver decides he/she doesn't want to work that day and a replacement driver is not found within a reasonable amount of time. So, the bus is also no longer an option.
I understand Harry has a fear of flying. Just why exactly, he can't say or won't tell me, but I told him logistically and logically flying is his best option. He flies from Kalispell, MT to Seattle, WA (1 hour and 35 minutes). A two-hour layover in Seattle catching his flight to Phoenix around 6:30 or so and arriving at Phoenix International Airport at 9:43 at night. That would be nearly 3 hours flying from Seattle to here. Not so bad when compared against 48 hours on the bus!
I think he'll go for it. Now here's the real problem. Paying for the ticket. He can't just walk up to the ticket counter the day he wants to fly and buy his ticket. It doesn't work like that. I am going to have to ask James if we can buy the ticket for Harry and have Harry pay us back when he gets here, which I know he'll do because he said as much.
Although we're not really ready for him, I can't wait for him to get here. There are still a lot of things we need to do for his arrival and there doesn't seem to be enough time to get it all done. But we'll have to. Come hell or high water, it has to be done. Maybe delaying his arrival until the 17th is a better idea, although I think he'd rather be here sooner than later. I don't know.
It almost feels like I'm getting ready to give birth again, although I'm not, thank goodness. LOL - I love Harry, he's my father and I'm willing to do anything and everything to have him here with us and getting to know him again and having him get to know me and my little family.
I'm his only heir. There is no one else to take care of him except me. It's totally my responsibility to take care of him. Getting him here is the first step. Ok, maybe second. The first step is convincing him to take a gosh darned airplane ride and then we'll go from there. It's not going to be easy. A lot has to change in order for that to happen. The clock is ticking, the ball is in my court. What has to be done has to be done. It won't happen until I do my part.
Oh what a joyous ride this is going to be. Here I go!
I checked the Greyhound bus schedule. At least I could navigate my way around the site, but there is no way I'm having Harry spend almost two complete days (yes, 48 hours) on the bus with 4 transfers, the longest of which would be in LVNV for 4 and a half hours and only being 6 hours from us - what's the point? Besides, the same thing that happened to Carli and I when we went to Pendleton could happen to him. He could get stuck in LVNV for way longer than 4 and a half hours - especially if the bus driver decides he/she doesn't want to work that day and a replacement driver is not found within a reasonable amount of time. So, the bus is also no longer an option.
I understand Harry has a fear of flying. Just why exactly, he can't say or won't tell me, but I told him logistically and logically flying is his best option. He flies from Kalispell, MT to Seattle, WA (1 hour and 35 minutes). A two-hour layover in Seattle catching his flight to Phoenix around 6:30 or so and arriving at Phoenix International Airport at 9:43 at night. That would be nearly 3 hours flying from Seattle to here. Not so bad when compared against 48 hours on the bus!
I think he'll go for it. Now here's the real problem. Paying for the ticket. He can't just walk up to the ticket counter the day he wants to fly and buy his ticket. It doesn't work like that. I am going to have to ask James if we can buy the ticket for Harry and have Harry pay us back when he gets here, which I know he'll do because he said as much.
Although we're not really ready for him, I can't wait for him to get here. There are still a lot of things we need to do for his arrival and there doesn't seem to be enough time to get it all done. But we'll have to. Come hell or high water, it has to be done. Maybe delaying his arrival until the 17th is a better idea, although I think he'd rather be here sooner than later. I don't know.
It almost feels like I'm getting ready to give birth again, although I'm not, thank goodness. LOL - I love Harry, he's my father and I'm willing to do anything and everything to have him here with us and getting to know him again and having him get to know me and my little family.
I'm his only heir. There is no one else to take care of him except me. It's totally my responsibility to take care of him. Getting him here is the first step. Ok, maybe second. The first step is convincing him to take a gosh darned airplane ride and then we'll go from there. It's not going to be easy. A lot has to change in order for that to happen. The clock is ticking, the ball is in my court. What has to be done has to be done. It won't happen until I do my part.
Oh what a joyous ride this is going to be. Here I go!
Saturday, May 8, 2010
Saturday conversation with Harry
Now he's here and things couldn't be better...
So, I spoke with my father, Harry about what his needs are and what they will be when he comes to live with us in June. I also asked him when he thought he'd like to be here and he said "June 7th."
Well, I was shocked. I was expecting him to come later in the month. I guess he's ready to get reacquainted sooner than I'd thought. But that's ok...the sooner the better, I guess. And...I found a way to get him here for a lot cheaper than a regular ticket. It's called 'buddy' something and the gal that does my nails will help me out. Which is pretty cool, if you ask me.
So, I spoke with my father, Harry about what his needs are and what they will be when he comes to live with us in June. I also asked him when he thought he'd like to be here and he said "June 7th."
Well, I was shocked. I was expecting him to come later in the month. I guess he's ready to get reacquainted sooner than I'd thought. But that's ok...the sooner the better, I guess. And...I found a way to get him here for a lot cheaper than a regular ticket. It's called 'buddy' something and the gal that does my nails will help me out. Which is pretty cool, if you ask me.
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