Your surprise. Here is Dale our resident Old Codger. He is home again. His daughter came from California to bring him home from the Old Folks Home. He is endlessly grateful to the folks at the retirement /rehab home and is so relieved that they were able to help him get fit enough to come home. He has lived on this spot almost a hundred years. His objective was to get back home.
TonTon about wobbled his bottom right off with excitement to find his old friend back in his accustomed place of residence. He carefully moved through the house ’til he found the old man and then threw himself at his feet. I took the camera when I visited and asked him if I could take some photos so that you all could see that he was finally home safe and sound. He was more than happy to sit for you and then blown away when I told him how many people have been reading about his struggle to overcome his badly broken leg and get back home. Why. He said, referring to all the comments and best wishes and grinning.
We thought about this for a bit and then I said. I think that you bring us hope. They wanted to cheer you on as you beat the odds and worked your way back. I still cannot find the right words. I guess in a world full of rotton stories it is heartening to see stubbornness overcome sense and win. The old man who picks up his walker and walks after falling and smashing his leg to bits is a kind of miracle. He went to the right place, worked with the right people, ate the right food and did the right work and succeeded.
Well, he said, smoothing his hair, I don’t expect a marriage proposal. He has a slight midwest drawl to his words which raises his vowels, holds them and bounces them down to the end of each sound. There is a musical quality to his voice. He is at his best when being ironic. He will tease. And he misses nothing.
I will tell them you are rich, I said. He lifted his head and laughed.
He called his dog up to his knee. TonTon raised his head from atop Dales shoe. You know how to get around me don’t you, he said to TonTon as they positioned themselves and turned to the camera.
This young dog and his very own Old Codger. 
I told him how many of you have been following his progress since mid February and he was really chuffed. It has been a long harrowing road back to mobility. And you all have followed through with him.
His bed is in his downstairs office so he will probably be reading the blog today. Safely back home in his parents house on his grandparents land with their furniture, his hundreds and hundreds of books and his ancient computer. This is not a home one leaves easily. This is a house that needs its Patriarch. 
And as Dale said to me yesterday, we will find a way to make it work again. Though I won’t be going up those stairs for a while.
Did you eat a good breakfast Dale? What we really should be looking for is simple nutritious meals that people with limited mobility can prepare at home. That he will want to prepare himself. I am not convinced about the level of goodness in TV dinners. He does not want his food delivered. He prefers to feed himself. But walking with two hands on a walker and carrying a plate of food to the table is incredibly difficult. Picking something up off the floor. Carrying a coffee to your chair by the TV. Unpacking a box. Finding a lost book. He and I will be working out systems to manage all this. So he can thrive while living alone. Just living is not enough- a person must thrive. But, like he said yesterday, we will find a way to make this work again.
He loves ribs and pizza. And chilli. Sweet and sour chicken TV dinners out of their separate compartments. And tomatoes. And junk food in bright orange crinkly packets, which he offers to me just to see me curl my lip and say Not in a Million Years!! He is fierce about his independence. This is a good thing.
I will take him fresh milk and eggs and cake three times a week. And tomatoes, John picks at least one a day now. Everyone needs an old person. One way or the other. Paid or unpaid. Easy or not. Just regular. Make sure you can visit on a regular schedule. It is a committment. A good one.
Good morning. It is 5.30 am. Time to carry the buckets of hot water to the barn and get ready for the milking. Have a lovely day.
celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
65 responses to “The long awaited day: The Old Codger Comes Home”
So glad you are home, Dale! The blessings of the Lord be upon you as you return to your role on the farmy. What a lovely family you have around you.
Welcome Home!!!!
A great post about which I love 2 things in particular. First, Dale’s independence and willingness to take responsibility for his own wellbeing intricately and sensibly balanced with accepting necessary interaction with others. Too often the balance is wrong: too much dependence, too much independence. Second, Ton Ton & Dale: dogs and people are capable of deep and complex love – the 2 of them remind me of my dog Bo, and my Dad who had a great affection for each other. Celi, I’m yet another person telling you, you are beyond marvellous. And Dale, from one Dale to another I wish you well 🙂
I’m glad he’s feeling so much better and is back home! There’s no place like home, especially one with such a long history. He needs a slow cooker then he doesn’t need to stand for hours in front of a hot stove, I think I’ve even seen ribs done it. Though you may need to the boiling separately first. And freezer meals are handy too. Avoid anything with too much chopping, it’s knackering. Take care of him. 🙂
There’s no place like home; there’s no place like home. Click. Click.
The walker can be fitted with a seat and with cup holders and with bags for holding reading/writing materials. Grabbers are wonderful for reaching items, just out of reach. With mine and my mom’s mobility issues I discovered a world of simple tools that made life sorta like an arcade game. The sock put-her-on-her was perhaps the most ingenious. A simple piece of hard plastic, covered in terrycloth with 2 long elastic “handles.” It made an impossibly, painful task into a game. How cool is that! Oh, and I just thought about plates to table – why not eat solid food out of cups? They are much easier for transporting without spillage…thinking outside the plate, so to speak 😉
Have a marvelous day, Niiki
That’s excellent news – welcome home Dale!
Dale, we are so glad you are back home. It’s just that the world is so complex and difficult we need something to give hope – for something to go right. Your generation has a way of cutting through the nonsense – practical and solid. Some of us have parents who have already gone on – leaving us orphans without that old astute knowledge and insight of the world. We are fierce in wanting you to thrive – and on your own terms. (besides anyone who TonTon approves of, must be OK.)
C. you are right, a person is richer with someone like Dale around. They are a treasure.
It’s funny how houses seem to mourn and decline if their owners leave. It’s like they take care of each other.
Despite protests, I stocked a few Ensure-type liquid drinks for my really old dad and father in law for those times they were so tired, but needed to eat something…and no cleaning up. (Surprisingly both requested a few more once they realized it was easy). But nothing is better than fresh tomatoes each meal! On Dr. said of all our relatives that age: anything they are interested in eating is pretty much OK – the important thing is to eat!
Hugs to you C. – “earning stars in your crown in Heaven” as my grandparents used to say.
Wow, how happy it is to read such a positive, cheery post. I am really glad the Codger has made it home. I wish I could send him containers of my chilli, which only need re-heating. TonTon seems in seventh heaven. Is the Codger near enough for TonTon to visit on his own? Sorry I was behind on the news due to the poetry course all week, but this news was worth waiting for!
TonTon has never looked happier! Welcome home Dale!
The story does indeed bring hope in this disparaging world. I am glad he is back home and that he recovered so well. My FIL is 87 and I doubt he would recover, but then he is neither as active or as young at heart. Very sad story indeed, so it’s nice to hear of such a happy story.
Lovely photos – and the look on TonTon’s face says it all. This is a good soul.
I tip my hat to you for taking the time and having the heart to care for this man. I am certain your efforts have provided and continue to provide a great deal of healing for this man. If I am this grateful from so far away, surely his gratitude is tenfold.
Bless you, Ms. C.
Welcome home to Dale! His independence and motivation are inspiring!!! And there’s no place like home. And C – Love what you wrote at the end. Thriving is important for sure. 🙂
Bless you all. Live long and prosper, Dale! 🙂
🙂
I am quite in love with The Old Codger. Virginia