Hi again. I just wrote an entry right before this that you can read to be caught up on what's going on...this is just to share some more emails with dad since so many people have told me they enjoyed reading the first ones I posted. They are quite encouraging and entertaining!—
Back when I was recovering at home from my accident, I wrote this note to dad for him to read before I awoke:
Dearest Father,
Out of my consideration for your self-esteem and sensitivity, I have decided to refrain from posting all of my thoughts. The emboldened portion below I omitted until your consent. If you wish to include the emboldened portion, please insert it or ask mother to do so. I exercised great restraint in trying to uphold the 5th Commandment. I love you.
Caring Bridge excerpt: Also, based on my comments last time, heaven forbid I portrayed my father as having no hair styling skills at all!—he just lacks them for styling my hair. We all know he can style his hair and cover his sacred sparse area quite aptly. And best of all, one day last week I awoke to see him looking in the mirror whilst combing his bushy eyebrows! I love my Dad!! In addition, he is Chester’s fur stylist. Yesterday we decided the time had come to give Chester a bath. Dad summoned the hound from outside the bathroom. Chester took one look at him and appeared to be running toward him, but then scurried into a bedroom and hid under the bed! Eventually he surfaced thinking the danger had passed, but no my beagle friend, no. So he is a clean pooch now, thanks to Dad.
Email from Dad soon after they moved to Port Huron:
sweetness
Having moved south and being in an urban environment, in the ' 'hood', as it were, I have noticed a change in functions.
I have acquired the unenviable position of processed dog food retrieval operative. At least twice a day I follow the processor around the neighborhood equipped with my packaging materials (fold top sandwich bags for the initial retrieval, hot from the manufactory, and a re-cycled plastic replacement of the well-loved and increasingly rare, grocery sack) and 'scoop the poop'.
This morning I wondered if it would be more efficient simply to put the 'Little Bites' straight into the garbage bag, and by-pass the intermediary steps…
I will resolve this dilemma, or at least accept it as my lot, but I thought you might enjoy this glimpse of life with the elders. In all honesty it hasn't changed much since the days of walking you guys to Bates [elementary school], except that there are no processed 'Knee-highs'. PTL[Praise the Lord]!
luv ya
dad :-)
[our dog when I was in elementary school ate knee high nylons from time to time…]
Hugh Liddiard to Emily Liddiard: This whole facebook thing is a learning experience for me..... think about that senior canine innovative procedure dichotomy! I could use a late night tutorial..... call sometime. Luv ya babe.
Hugh Liddiard to Emily Liddiard: [a comment in response to my status saying I had gone on my first bike ride since my accident] Training wheels???.... Helmet???... Wrist braces???... Knee pads???... Pillow strapped to butt??... sometimes daddies are over-protective.
Mon, July 6, 2009 2:38:41 AM
Subject: daddy message
sweetie
I love you.
me
Hugh Liddiard August 31, 2009 at 3:07pm
Babe - here is my first attempt at 'messaging' - who says that mature patriarchs cannot undertake innovative procedures?
Hugh Liddiard September 13, 2009 at 8:14pm
sweetie
I took almost 36 hours to read '90 Minutes in Heaven'. The book continues in relating the ripple effects and his interaction with similarly challenged people.
There was a reason and there IS a reason, we just cannot understand.
In the words of Great Papaw Hardy, "We Walk By Faith...."
luv ya babe
dad
Hugh Liddiard September 30, 2009 at 5:11pm Oswald [regarding Oswald Chambers’ devotional reading for that day, which we both read]:
seems to me he hit one 'out of the park' today, nail on the head , bullseye type of perspicacity. Worthy of much thought and incorporation into yo mindset.
On Sat, Oct 10, 2009 at 7:23 PM, Em Liddiard wrote:
How does the moon cut his hair?
Eclipse it.
:)
Dad’s response:
o my child.......
everyone knows that the moon is 'airless'!!!!
luv ya babe
dad
Amazing email from dad:
Em,
I was performing my primary function late last week, provisioning for your beloved mother, in a place where I can be assured of meeting my secondary function, maximizing selection and economy, when I crossed carts with the Trinity Prayer Shawl Lady.
We spent several minutes in conversation of value and substance and were in turn cart crossed by Don of Don and Mary Jean Reid. He was questing for his matrimonial partner who had reportedly been in the cat food aisle, and in short order continued his quest as Vi and I concluded our discourse.
As we parted to go down our different aisles, she admonished me to render a 'Hi from Vi' in my forthcoming communication.
It has been so rendered.
Later, as I was preparing to settle my financial obligation with one of the employees appointed to effect the pre-departure reckoning, I crossed carts with the cat food lady, who was similarly seeking her errant matrimonial partner. We briefly exchanged pleasantries before she moved on towards the produce and baked goods…
With much love and heartfelt affection,
dad
My message to dad while he was home with Chester and Mom was with Ryan and me for a few weeks in Minnesota: Facebook has denied my desire to send my greeting to you in its entirety due perhaps to verbosity. So this is part One of hopefully Two: greetings father. i just felt like extending a word of love to you. perhaps you are missing your good lady wife whilst she visits her offspring in the North country. I have stepped in to fulfill your primary function, provisioning for my beloved mother, in her absence from your presence; this in the form of purchasing items of personal hygiene and victuals for her. This evening, your matrimonial partner and I cuddled with Faith, the North country beagle, but both admitted superior affection and longing for Chester, the beagle who mother tells me from your report is similarly longing whistfully for her return. Do give the hound a loving embrace in my stead.
The following is Part 2 of my discourse with yours truly. Please refer to Part One prior to reading this: Well, upon examination of the current time, it seems the effervescent goodness of Polident has worked its cleansing prowess to its allotted quota; thus it is now time to scrub my jaw appliance before returning it to my currently naked teeth. And with that, I bid you farewell. Good morning, my dear father. may you be assured of my great love and admiration for you. shalom.
and by 'yours truly' in the last post, I intended to communicate you. Not me. I try not to have discourses with myself too often, lest I be labeled mentally unstable. Right, Em? Right. :)
Hugh Liddiard to Emily Liddiard: The ability to communicate one's thoughts in writing is estimable. Perhaps the members of the Minnesota Literary Guild will influence your editing skills and encourage concise brevity to circumvent facebook's strictures.
Thank you for your good wishes for me and the Beagle of the Southlands. I am glad that you stand in 'locus parentis' in attending to your mother's welfare. You musta bin drug up good! luv yas all - dad
------
sweetie pie plum cake,
I think that you brother, the bearded child, has an I Pass which is linked to the account.
as to the other stuff.......... I know nothing, I know nothing!
Doubtless, your mother, who is at present deep in the state of slumber, will respond later this morning. I don't know who snores louder, her or Chester, but the back of the house ROCKS!!!!
luv ya babe,
dad :-)
Cynthia's comment elicited a slight moistening to my ocular orbs. Reality is dawning.
Alright, well, there are several comforting and encouraging things that I can share sometime soon. I also have some more recent emails with dad that are quite entertaining. My aunt and cousin, Roni and Tess, just got here from England and we have another visitation this evening…funeral/celebration service tomorrow at 11 am (for details on those, check a few entries back). Thanks again so much for your support!
Love, Em
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