Dominos

Childhood memories have come running back to me as we have started camping in our A-frame camper. Growing up we had a pop up camper…and even though ours is a bit different…the smell of our camper….took me right back to childhood.

At first I thought about getting an air freshener to help….but realized that that “camper” smell was in all campers and it wasn’t going away and really I didn’t want it to.

When I was little we would go on camping adventures. We went on “float trips” down the River and I got to ride back on my dads motorcycle with a helmet that would choke me because it was too big for my head…and I burned my foot on the exhaust (because I wasn’t the sharpest kid back then and it looked like the perfect place to rest my foot, and no we didn’t wear shoes always ) I also caught my foot in the bike spokes as I was riding on the front of the bike…but that is another story for another day….

On rainy days we would play dominos….I remember not being super good at it…but I still remembered playing it.

Today, I asked my Dad if he would play with me…and even though he never said my name today…but yet again said my husbands….I had my Dad back. ….for just a little bit.

He could add the numbers faster than my Mom and I….and had you just walked up to him and observed us you would never know that he had dementia. He was just like his old self….and for that hour….my Dad was back. As my Dad and I tried to do things we aren’t allowed to play in dominos and my Mom would yell no and we would laugh…I prayed my daughter held on to this day as a “good one”. Because it was a gift….and I saw it as that…through the game of dominos, my Dad was brought back and for that I am so grateful.

As we walked to the car…the confusion came back…the constant questions returned….but for today….I had him back while we played dominos…..and you bet when I visit him again…I’m bringing them again. I’m ever hopeful that we can get that amazing link back again….but if not, I’m thankful for today…and I will keep working to find ways to bring him back each time.