Plan B

Where am I? 

 

You're in a nursing home Dad. 

Dad rallied BIG time.  This past Friday we were able to move him out of the hospital and into a first rate nursing home.

He's had a shower.  He's in a wheel chair.  He's eating independently.   And...

He's made a friend.

"Calypso," a 15 year old macaw, greeted him warmly - showed off his wings and did a little dance.  

And Dad laughed. 

Later that night, on a whim, my husband Mark and I grabbed the dogs, picked up our grandson Jackson and headed for Newport, Rhode Island to celebrate my husbands birthday.  Our favorite little place, in the heart of the city, had one room available - a two bedroom suite.  

The weather forecast was unseasonably warm and sunny - ideal conditions for the 55th annual St. Patrick's parade.  

I was convinced I had taken Jackson here before, but he was certain it was his first time.  

After the parade, we stopped at the local arcade.  Most of the kids were shooting guns, or basketballs, or riding in miniature simulated racing cars.  But Jackson, being a quirky individualist,  headed straight for the Wheel of Fortune.

On his first spin, he landed on a small slice of silver labeled "200 Points." All he needed to do now was guess the correct letters and solve the puzzle.

W   I   L   G   A   O ...

Let me give you a hint...

TWIRLING A BATON

Congratulations Jackson! 

You won one THOUSAND tickets!!!

In the eyes of a 10 year old, winning one thousand tickets is the equivalent of winning a million dollar Powerball.

Elated beyond words recognizable to the human ear, he quickly cashed in his tickets and picked out his prizes.

A football, a basketball, and two baseball caps - all representative of his favorite sports teams.  

Later that afternoon, as the sun was setting, Jackson, Mark and I tossed Jackson's new football back and forth on the lawn behind one of the big hotels.  

We all had one thing in common - none of us had ever played catch with our fathers. 

Once again, I asked Jackson..."are you SURE I never brought you to Newport?"
"YES Nanny, I'm sure," answered Jackson. 

That night, while sitting across from him at dinner, I remembered...  

It was Kerry who had been to Newport.  

They were about the same age the first time he visited.

Jackson was, at this moment, the spitting image of his father.

I could feel Kerry smiling down on us.  

For the first time in almost two weeks, I could breath deeply.

I smiled. 

Mark smiled.

"What?" asked Jackson

"Congratulations Jackson, you're a winner!" I assured him.

"Thanks Nanny!"

And together... we laughed.  

Kerry, age 12.