(Mis)adventures with Dad

Today I was to take my dad to Morgantown for a dental appointment...actually, just a cleaning appointment. Because my dad can get in & out of his own car more easily & also hates to see us use our gas, he had his car out & ready. I traded places with him & pulled out onto the highway. As soon as I accelerated over 20 MPH, the car began to shake violently. I noticed that the brake light was on as well. At this point my dad tells me that this happens a lot to him & that I need to come to a complete stop, then quickly release the brake. However, this is easier said than done because we are shaking down a busy highway. I find a side street & pull in, but his trick of hitting the brake & releasing it fails to stop the shaking. I quickly decide we need to return to his house & get his other car, but it had a dead battery. I certainly didn't mind driving him in my car so we transferred everything & took off. By now I had some concerns about being late for his appointment.

We arrive at the parking lot behind the dental office in the nick of time when we discover that neither of us has any change for the meter. I encourage him to go on into the office & let me deal with the meter issue. As he is getting out of the car he shows me a lid to something & asks if I have seen his teeth (a partial) which were in a container that was now just a lid. I put the brake on & help him look around. He suggests I look in my purse since he seems to think that's where he put the container...ewwww! Fortunately (for me anyway), we found it on the floor of my car. He goes on into the office, & I cruise for a parking spot with some remaining minutes on the meter. I find one with 19 minutes & after dumping everything out of my purse come up with two dimes & a nickel to add to it. (When will I learn to carry a little money with me!)

As soon as I was seated the hygienist came out to let me know there was a problem. My dad had not taken his pre-medication. I asked her what our options were. She explained to me the pros & cons of doing it anyway. So I go back & ask Dad what he wants to do...stay or reschedule. He wants to stay so we do.

After the appointment, they need to schedule a procedure, but this has to be coordinated with an appointment he already has with an oral surgeon. When they contact the oral surgeon's office, they have no record of my dad's appointment. Yikes! We finally figured out that he has given the oral surgeon his nickname, "Jack," while the dental office is asking about "John" (his given name). The 1/2 hour in Morgantown is now well over an hour.

To top off my day I realize that my low fuel light is on the entire way home & am definitely running on fumes. As I am getting out of my car at work, I realize he has left me a parting gift...his toothbrush & toothpaste are in my console...never a dull moment with Dad!