Krackle

My papa bear is so cute. Always has been. And as I watch him change, some things are so humorous.  It makes me happy to know he is happy, enjoys things almost all the time and if he doesn't he will not remember. A simple suggestion will turn his frown upside down. Oh to have that gift of a short term memory for the unpleasant things and to be so easily redirected to happy thoughts:-)

So to give you an example of the simple joys of life I take you to the doctors office. He remembers his primary "Dr. K" but not the specialist. But that's okay. The specialist introduces himself every time with such a gentle manner that I am almost convinced we haven't met before......well almost. Each doctor reviews the test results, each time with the same surprise from dad. And before we are to the door he has forgotten the news. Wonderful!

And so this week I decided to take him a few treats. It is Easter season and the really fun candy is out in all the fancy wrappers. He loves treats. He is like a little kid when given goodies and it is such a joy to see him enjoy the little things so completely. Anyway, I had a little gift bag and a couple of bags of candy. Mini M & M's and mini candy bars. He digs through the bag and pulls out a pink candy bar. "Krackle, I don't think I have ever had one before!" He opened it and wow, that was really good.

We talk about the weather and having lunch when he returns to his care center. This makes him hungry so he digs through the bag and pulls out a small candy in a pink wrapper. "Krackle. I don't think I have ever had one before." Oh, that is really good he declares. I am smiling, a little chuckle. We enjoy people watching, talking about birds and what field trip he will go on during the week. As we wait a bit longer, he digs through the bag and finds a bag of the mini M & M's. Those are fun.

As he drops the M & M wrapper into the bag, he digs for one more piece of candy. It is pink, Krackle. He hasn't had one before! Okay, I am enjoying this very much. I am laughing as I am holding three wrappers and seeing him enjoy it as if it was the very first time. And in a way for him it is. He has just as much pleasure with the third Krackle as the first.

I remind him that eating the bag of candy does not count as lunch and he smiles. He will take the rest home for after. But I wonder if he ate more on the ride back and if any of them were pink!

I wonder how often I take little joys for granted as the "new" is gone and I am no longer amused or excited. How great would it be to open a book, or cupboard, or whatever and be just as excited as the very first time. Think about it, if you looked at your spouse as if it was the very first time, EVERY time. And what if the bad news vanished as soon as it arrived in favor of happier thoughts. What a gift.

I am so glad he is happy. I pray he will continue to enjoy everything as if it as the first time, like the air museum (3 trips) or Cody's visit (new every time....even if gone to the restroom) as he continues on this very unpredictable journey.

Lamentations 3:22-23