Today’s guest blogger is Gail Thornton. She is a poet who blogs at Gail Thornton, Poet ~ Author. She said yes to blogging about caring for others. Let’s talk to Gail about being cared for and caring for those who cared for you. Grab a cuppa.
My Dad was a Marine in the Korean War, and worked hard as a plant manager of a thriving die-casting plant to provide for my Mom, my two sisters, my brother, and myself. We all had bronzed baby shoes from the foundry.
When I was five years old, I became paralyzed by polio. Once I was out of the iron lung and returned home, I was still unable to move. He lovingly built a stretcher for me at the business, and it was he who did my nightly stretching exercises to help me to regain the use of my body. I was loved and encouraged by both of my parents that I would one day walk again, ride a bike, and climb trees. I believed in myself because they believed in me, and felt anything was possible. He held me every night, limp in his arms, and sang lullabies to me.
Gail and Cliff Thornton
It was Dad who taught me to take my first steps again with crutches, one agonizing inch at a time. It was difficult not because of any physical pain, but because finally, I was realizing my dream with the help of my Dad to become whole again. I did recover completely, and to my own and my parents’ pride, went on to climb not only stairs, but literally mountains.
My Dad was seventy-nine when my Mom died, and he was lost. Within a year, he had secured an apartment and lived independently in the same complex I am living in now. We were always close, and this time he needed me. Physically, he maintained, but emotionally he was a broken man. He had loved my Mom so deeply that the loss of her was something he couldn’t recover from.
I tried to take care of his need for love. I visited him often during the week, and we made collages together, watched the Patriots together, talked about loneliness and aging, and coming to the end of one’s life. He said he wasn’t afraid of death, but afraid of suffering. I knew he was already suffering at a depth that was barely understood by me.
Over time as he became weaker and ill, I felt I had little left to give to him. I couldn’t replace my Mom. I couldn’t comfort his immense loneliness and isolation. There were times I had to admit that I felt resentful of the burden of his emotional demands on me that I just didn’t have the reserves for. The resentment caused me tremendous guilt because he had taken such loving care of me when I was a child.
I loved my Dad. He cherished me. I will never doubt those things and I have no regrets. We were honest about our needs and limits, and this helped to ease my own loss when he was gone.
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Have you cared for your parents? What helps you stay strong for your parents? What are good activities for engaging aging parents? Have you talked to your parents about their care as they age?
Many thanks to Gail for guest posting. Be sure to show your thanks for giving you a break from Red. See you in the comments!
Gail Thornton
/ September 6, 2012Sorry folks, the correct URL to reach my blog called Gail Thornton’s World, is: http://www.gailthorrnton.blogspot.com Thanks!
Gail Thornton recently posted..Poem – Something Else
Red
/ September 10, 2012I am beginning to worry about the posts I have scheduled for this week. Some of them are more than eight months old…I fixed this BTW a few minutes after it went live 😉
Alexandra Heep
/ September 6, 2012Gail, that was some powerful insight. I am always amazed that there are loving, caring parents out there as it is an alien concept to me, having grown up in a cold, dark environment. It was the proverbial cave for real, and more, with super long-lasting scars and ripple effects.
Having said that, one side of that is to be spared the loss I guess. For some reason I’ve never had to grieve for a person (lost pets hit me hard though), as they tend to move out of my life before then. Perhaps it’s why I keep moving around?
Well, my mother did pass while I was an ocean away, but those feelings were more guilt than anything for never having reconciled and for abandoning her as punishment for some of the things that happened.
You illustrate very well the flip side of loving and growing old. Thank you for sharing your personal experience.
Alexandra Heep recently posted..Milestones
Gail Thornton
/ September 6, 2012Thank you Alexandra! I understand the scars of childhood trauma, and the aftermath. I am sorry that you suffered so, and hope that in your growth, that healing has occurred. You are a very generous and loving soul, full of optimism and so much to offer to others. I look forward to your comments here, as you are very insightful, as well. Thank you for for sharing, too!
Hugs – Gail
Gail Thornton recently posted..Poem – Something Else
Alexandra Heep
/ September 6, 2012Oh yes, it’s all good. Mentally and emotionally anyway!
Alexandra Heep recently posted..Milestones
Cat Forsley
/ September 6, 2012GAIL !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What an amazing Lady You are 🙂
wow
wow
awe
amazement
compassion
kindness ………
wow ……….
checking your blog right now 🙂
Cat Forsley recently posted..Last Video for the summer ! Cat Forsley ©
Gail Thornton
/ September 6, 2012Thank you Cat!!!! So happy to see you here tonight!!!
Hugs!Gail
Gail Thornton recently posted..Poem – The Singer – Blues Cabaret, 1958
Cat Forsley
/ September 6, 2012Huge Hugs to You 🙂
Cat Forsley recently posted..Last Video for the summer ! Cat Forsley ©
Cat Forsley
/ September 6, 2012Gail …………. how does one subscribe to your site ?
Red !!!!!!! What an amazing woman you found 🙂
Lots and Lots of love and awe 🙂
Cat xo
Cat Forsley recently posted..Last Video for the summer ! Cat Forsley ©
Gail Thornton
/ September 6, 2012Hi Cat, you can subscribe by email by clicking on one of the black tabs to the right and putting in your email——Thanks!
Gail Thornton recently posted..Poem – The Singer – Blues Cabaret, 1958
Cat Forsley
/ September 6, 2012OK ::) will do 🙂
Lovely site 🙂
so much to read 🙂
Cat Forsley recently posted..Last Video for the summer ! Cat Forsley ©
Red
/ September 10, 2012Just wait until you see her books coming with the Redmund Launch!
Mysterycoach
/ September 6, 2012This is beautiful Gail … very touching. I’m not good with mushy sentiment, however you completely touched my heart. 🙂
Mysterycoach recently posted..~ Regularly Scheduled Programming ! ~
Gail Thornton
/ September 6, 2012Thank you so much Mysterycoach! So happy you made it here to read my post tonight—–looking forward to reading your work, too!
Hugs! Gail
Gail Thornton recently posted..Poem – The Singer – Blues Cabaret, 1958
C. Brown
/ September 6, 2012I admire the love you and your father shared. I work in adult protective services and see far too many people who don’t care for their aging parents. I appreciate your honesty about the difficult moments. It isn’t always easy, loving someone and caring for them. Beautiful post.
C. Brown recently posted..What Kind Gesture Need Be Grand
Gail Thornton
/ September 6, 2012Thank you so much, C. Brown, I was inspired by a great love…….I live in an elderly complex and have seen the situations you mention. We were able to profide my Dad with his wishes, hospice, and his family at home. I know that’s rare.
Hugs! Gail
Gail Thornton recently posted..Poem – The Singer – Blues Cabaret, 1958
Tess Kann
/ September 6, 2012An amazing, heartfelt story. Thank you for sharing. My mom looked after dad until he died but 24 years later, she became ill. I have five siblings so the burden of care wasn’t singular. One sister, who works in a hospital took the time to stay with mom everyday (in hospital and hospice) for three months. She was lucky, her employer not only paid her for the time off but took her back after mom died.
Tess Kann recently posted..Ego Takes a Holiday
Gail Thornton
/ September 6, 2012That’s beautiful, especially in these days of impersonal workplaces, Tess! So glad you and your siblings had each other.
Hugs! Gail
Gail Thornton recently posted..Poem – The Singer – Blues Cabaret, 1958
Red
/ September 10, 2012I have had employers like that. I have always treated my employees this way as well. I think taking care of family is extremely important.
Binky
/ September 6, 2012That was a very powerful piece for being so short. A little too close for comfort for me, though.
Binky recently posted..Extra Cold Pizza
Gail Thornton
/ September 6, 2012Awww Binky——–Hugs and love to you……Gail <3
Gail Thornton recently posted..Poem – The Singer – Blues Cabaret, 1958
Red
/ September 10, 2012I am trying to convince her to do flash. Her poetry and short fiction is just as good as her memoirs.
Gail Thornton
/ September 10, 2012Thank you, Red!…..I have committed myself to write some flash, probably in my journal on vacation during this coming weekend and part of next week. I’m excited by the challenge!
Gailxxx
Gail Thornton recently posted..Poem – Last Night’s Dream
Red
/ September 10, 2012Excellent!!
Lizzie Cracked
/ September 6, 2012Gail – this was wonderful – and a poignant reminder of the whole circle of life… if we live out our natural lives surely the children we cared for will be the ones taking care of us and so it goes. This kind of hit me like a brick this summer when I moved home for a while because my mother had knee surgery and my dad couldn’t do everything required – now that isn’t odd for my dad to not want to do it all and smart man he takes help when offered and where he can get it but this is the third time my mom had this major surgery I have come all three times – in the past 10 years – and this time – if I hadn’t .. well ..I took the night shift since I don;t sleep anyways and from dinner to 6 am I was on.. all the times I was in and out of their room my mom crying in pain and me moving machinery around – to us laughing hysterically cause he would roll over and…ok anyways – he did not wake – he was that exhausted and it hit me that my parents are getting old… hey guess what I lost my train of thought… but I guess it was just good timing and so beautifully expressed… my dad has never deserted me even when he thought I was just a super screw up not living up to my potential… they asked me to move back home recently and I was adamantly not going to do it until my mom told me it was more for their benefit – to have me to help them then for mine this time… so… wonderfully done – I have been to your blog and couldnt comment but i have another option to get around it I think – I’ll let you know if it works 😉 <3 Lizzie
Lizzie Cracked recently posted..The Grass is Always Greener Where You Spread the Most Manure. Mid-Afternoon Mental Moment
Gail Thornton
/ September 6, 2012Lizzie, your kindness and commitment to your parents is admirable and you will reap more benefits than they do, I am guessing. Becoming even closer in the later years, yes even the hysterical laughing, which made me laugh out loud, is testament to your good-heartedness and beautiful spirit in the face of your loved one’s pain. I admire you.
Hugs! Gail
Gail Thornton recently posted..Poem – The Singer – Blues Cabaret, 1958
Red
/ September 10, 2012I think it took a lot for your mother to admit that, Lizzie. You are far more critical of your relationship with them than is absolutely necessary. You are a benefit to them. Just look at how much you helped after the surgery. <3