2LZ
07-13-2021, 01:56 AM
To all the youngin's here, as you may have guessed, some of us are getting up in years. That doesn't mean we don't have people higher on the ladder rungs than we are, it just means that (thankfully), some of our life responsibilities have evolved....and this week, we have a special guest at the Humble 2LZ Abode.
Mrs. 2LZ mother passed away last December....and left her dad behind. Married out of high school, they had 64 years together, and we finally talked him into taking the 1.5 hour drive to stay with us for a week. Her brother (and caregiver) "drop-shipped" him last Friday evening and he's ours until Wednesday night, when he gets picked up. 86 years old, a bit of dementia and a stroke later, here he is.
Tired? Oh yah...lots of naps. BUT if I keep him involved, he's right as rain. We built a shelf together today and he's completely "on it" when engaged.
Sent to a military school at 6 for "being a shitty kid", then moved with his dad to Canada at nine to reopen an old family orchard, then to be be a blacksmith and farrier for decades, then a Sac County Sheriff in his later years (he got in by shoeing the posse), the old guy has seen a lot of life.
He was a complete asshole to me in the younger years, but I dealt with it. I loved his daughter. Now, it's my job to keep him busy when I'm with him. Tomorrow, the weather is finally cooling here and we'll be in the shop with me inventing projects for him, electric scooter and all. I think we may have to mount the tank on the XS11 and I'll have him doing all the fuel line cutting after we measure the lengths together.
The dude, just a few years ago, was such a "man's man". He's built houses, forged all kinds of awesome stuff, even built his own barn, by himself, at 81. Now? Since his stroke and losing his wife, the drain is swirling quickly. I want to be as available as possible, even though he made my life sometimes hell in the younger years. He did the best he knew how, period.
As some may remember here, he and Mrs. 2LZ both flew to Alaska together and worked the Iditarod, multiple times. Father/Daughter trips of a lifetime. I was never that adventurous.
Anyway, now our little Spot and he have totally bonded and she's SO protective of him. She never leaves his side. When he naps, she's always right there.
Tomorrow morning? We hit the shop after a good breakfast. I'll be cherishing these hours.
Mrs. 2LZ mother passed away last December....and left her dad behind. Married out of high school, they had 64 years together, and we finally talked him into taking the 1.5 hour drive to stay with us for a week. Her brother (and caregiver) "drop-shipped" him last Friday evening and he's ours until Wednesday night, when he gets picked up. 86 years old, a bit of dementia and a stroke later, here he is.
Tired? Oh yah...lots of naps. BUT if I keep him involved, he's right as rain. We built a shelf together today and he's completely "on it" when engaged.
Sent to a military school at 6 for "being a shitty kid", then moved with his dad to Canada at nine to reopen an old family orchard, then to be be a blacksmith and farrier for decades, then a Sac County Sheriff in his later years (he got in by shoeing the posse), the old guy has seen a lot of life.
He was a complete asshole to me in the younger years, but I dealt with it. I loved his daughter. Now, it's my job to keep him busy when I'm with him. Tomorrow, the weather is finally cooling here and we'll be in the shop with me inventing projects for him, electric scooter and all. I think we may have to mount the tank on the XS11 and I'll have him doing all the fuel line cutting after we measure the lengths together.
The dude, just a few years ago, was such a "man's man". He's built houses, forged all kinds of awesome stuff, even built his own barn, by himself, at 81. Now? Since his stroke and losing his wife, the drain is swirling quickly. I want to be as available as possible, even though he made my life sometimes hell in the younger years. He did the best he knew how, period.
As some may remember here, he and Mrs. 2LZ both flew to Alaska together and worked the Iditarod, multiple times. Father/Daughter trips of a lifetime. I was never that adventurous.
Anyway, now our little Spot and he have totally bonded and she's SO protective of him. She never leaves his side. When he naps, she's always right there.
Tomorrow morning? We hit the shop after a good breakfast. I'll be cherishing these hours.