Well, it happened. My parents moved in.

Yep, let that set in for a minute. The old, crazy people have come to stay, and, boy, have they upset the proverbial apple cart. Everything (and I mean everything) they do is completely opposite of what we do. They have routines that we shan’t even suggest be changed for any reason. In fact, I am convinced my parents would do well in the state penitentiary. They get up at the crack of dawn, eat three square meals at the SAME TIME every day, and most of their clothes consist of the lovely, bright safety orange color. Truthfully, they might end up in a correctional facility soon. … All we need is for someone to perform a search on my mom’s Mary Poppins purse. You see, it weighs about seven pounds as it is loaded down with 300 napkins from Wendy’s, 27 sugar packets from McDonald’s, and 52 jelly packets from Denny’s. Oh, and let’s not forget the two half-eaten sausage links wrapped up in a slightly-used Kleenex. … HOW CAN I POSSIBLY BE RELATED TO THESE PEOPLE?

My dad was recently diagnosed with bone cancer. As his disease continues to progress, we came to the agreement that he and my stepmother would find it an easier transition for the coming years if they came now to live with us in Florida. This meant big changes for us in many ways. I mean, it wasn’t that hard to have a weekly conversation on the phone with them as they shared their immensely-detailed account of what they had to eat or who they saw at the grocery store. However, we are now getting in-person, eyewitness accounts of their daily bathroom regimen in meticulous detail at the breakfast table. Now that’s a horse of a different color!

We are also learning that things that are frivolous and mundane to us are paramount to my parents. We get to hear about their opinions on life most often when we are trying to watch TV. Thanks to Magnum PI (that’s what Mom calls him instead of his real name, Tom Selleck), we get to talk in length about reverse mortgages even though my parents don’t own a home. And pleeeaasseee, don’t get them started about politics, religion, or how much it costs for a haircut these days. And although it’s somewhat annoying to constantly deliberate about inane topics at home, it beats the opinionated remarks out in public – as my parents have forgotten how to whisper.

People often cautiously approach me and ask, “How’s it going?” Truthfully, there are days I want to run away. Then, there are days I want them to run away. But then, after they shuffle and mumble off to bed,  I stop to reflect that it is a blessing to still have time with them. As I have mentioned in past articles, my mother passed away two years ago. There isn’t one day that passes by when I don’t think about her and how she impacted my life. I miss ALL the little things that used to annoy me. I also recognize that there are countless folks who didn’t have a healthy relationship with their parents due to a myriad of circumstances. We often take so much for granted.

Martin Luther King Jr. said, “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’”

So, what I am learning is that even though this season in our life is difficult, it’s also an opportunity to give back to the people who sacrificed much to help make me the person I am today. For that, I am truly grateful.

Live well, my friends.