After enjoying a picturesque drive through the snow with my GF and taking an under-dressed girl and her brother home, I headed for my home. When I got there my dad was still in pain. I asked again if he wanted to go to the hospital. He said no, he would be fine. Close to 8:00 that night (when there was nearly 20 inches of snow) my dad asked if I was more comfortable in my car or his. I asked, "more comfortable for what?" He just wanted me to drive him to the hospital. Just??? So I partially cleared a path to my car, swept the snow off it, and helped both of my parents walk to the car. Then we headed off into the snowstorm.
I attempted the direct route, but there was one steep hill I couldn't get past. My car had rear-wheel drive and kept sliding before I could get to the top. There were deep ditches on both sides of the road so I couldn't afford to take chances. We took the long way instead. When we got to a straight stretch of road I sped up a little. My mom was in the backseat and scared. She softly said, "I think you need to slow down." Before I could answer, my dad said, "Leave the boy alone!" I had to fight back laughter. If you knew my dad, the drill sergeant, you would know why that was funny. For him to be the one defending instead of "advising"--Hysterical!!! But also an indication of how much pain he was in that night.
Soon he and I had a big disagreement. A road he wanted to take was closed. He had an idea for another route, but I knew a shortcut. I had been bused to a middle school in that area and the after-school activity bus took a lot of different routes to get me home. The drill sergeant made it clear he did NOT want to take my shortcut. I disobeyed him. The entire drive was tense because of the snow and his pain. But those next 10 or 15 minutes were beyond tense, with him not exactly yelling, but strongly insisting I was wrong and needed to turn-around. My short-cut seemed to drag on and I started to doubt my memory--but I didn't admit it. I kept going.
Thankfully I wasn't wrong. The shortcut took us directly to the hospital. It was at the top of a hill, but my car took us straight up without a single slip or spin. The relief was tremendous. I had debated with my dad before (and secretly done things my way instead of his), but that was the first time I openly disobeyed him. He needed to be in charge and he didn't want to admit anyone knew something he didn't. But that night he ended up appreciating it. He thanked me for driving him and said he was glad I took the shortcut. I can't properly explain how huge that was. It was a first small step towards him respecting me--there were still a lot of steps to be taken on that journey, but he eventually got there.
I hope now you can understand how the story of driving my dad to the hospital (through the snow) made me forget to tell my GF about the French Maid the next day. And for the next 10 years!!! Right? :D
PS - Hours later, after my dad was admitted to the hospital, I insisted my mom let me drive her home. We made it safely, but I don't think she ever forgave me--thanks to an encounter on a bridge with a snow plow. But I swear, it's wake only pushed us a little towards the guard rail. LOL!
Lol to quote little house on the prairie, all's well that ends well!
ReplyDeleteHaha, sometimes that's the best you can hope for.
DeleteI would have been terrified. Being stuck in the snowstorm during an emergency is awful to think about. I'm so glad you guys made it and made it safely!
ReplyDeletexo, Yi-chia
Always Maylee
Thank you, it was a tense night. You're right, I can't imagine what it would have been like of we'd gotten stuck in a snow drift. Yikes!
DeleteI shouldn't have pushed my mom into letting me take her home afterwards. When the snow plow passed us (heading in the opposite direction), it felt like a river of snow was pushing the car sideways, towards the guard rail. She made a scared sound...which was amusing because I knew we were okay, but heartbreaking when I realized how afraid she was. She just wasn't cut-out for any sort of adventure and I should have known that. Bad son!
That's awesome that you got appreciated for driving in in the snow to the hospital!
ReplyDeleteHaha, always nice to be appreciated. But the most awesome part was actually getting there through the deep snow. The memory makes me smile--it's one of many that makes me realize how lucky I've always been. I have an awesome guardian angel. :)
DeleteI'm reading both parts with no time lapse in between. Once I saw a part 2 as the last post, I immediately scrolled down to read part 1 first.
ReplyDeleteNow I understand why you conveniently forgot to tell your wife the incident about the lady in French Maid costume. I would have forgotten too since the dad's kidney stones and pain is the main event.
That is friendship--reading both of these long posts back-to-back! :)
DeleteThank you for understanding. My wife doesn't, or maybe she's just teasing me. It really wasn't a big deal. So when the moment passed, there was nothing to remind me to bring it up.
Sometimes it's difficult for people, particularly our parents, to recognize that they need help from us or that we know something that they don't. I'm glad that you made the right decisions for all parties involved - it takes a lot of courage not to get bowled over
ReplyDeleteThank you, rooth. That's very kind of you (as usual :). Being right, in the end, helps a LOT. When we end up being wrong, only a very special few give credit that you followed your conscience and did what you thought was right at the time. When you're wrong people see you as being stubborn or perhaps even dumb.
DeleteBut when we're responsible, we have to do what we think is best. Right? :)
PS - At that point in his life, my dad still didn't like acknowledging anyone (especially his kids) might know something he didn't. He grew out of that later.
DeleteWhat a night! Glad you all made it to the hospital (and via your shortcut no less). Sometimes Dad doesn't always know best. :P I also don't blame you for forgetting about the French Maid. It's not like you did anything wrong there and in the grand scheme of things, it was minor compared to taking your dad to the hospital.
ReplyDeleteIf hubbies are smart, they listen to their better halves. And THANK YOU about the memory lapse. Thankfully my wife's heat vision doesn't cause permanent damage. :)
DeleteI am happy that the journey has already been travelled and that you're already enjoying the destination. Can't wait for my time. Right now, the process of proving that following ones dreams is worth it is still very difficult, sometimes even painful..
ReplyDeleteit's a good thing the shortcut did lead to the hospital, or else you will never hear the end of it ever!
ReplyDeleteWow! You're right. My dad would not have gotten over that.
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