The Christmas Stroll

My folks have been married for seventy years and live in the small coastal town of Old Saybrook, Connecticut. On December 2nd, 2011, my Dad (92), and my Mom (90), decided they would like to participate in the town’s, Main Street festivities. The agenda included, a Heroes Tree Lighting in front of the Katherine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center, honoring those who gave their lives for our Country. The stores along Main Street were brightly decorated, with open doors and holiday refreshments, an enticement to all of the visitors. Horse drawn hay rides carried families up and down the beautifully decorated streets. There were Christmas Carolers in period clothing, on the corners, entertaining the crowds with their merriment. Santa Claus was greeting the children, taking note of the items on their wish list. The whole town was out to support the local shops and enjoy the music. The air was filled with laughter and people coming together.

My parents live in the Senior Housing complex, across from the elementary school, about two blocks from Main Street. My folks had enjoyed going to the Stroll for a number of years and my Dad said, let’s go! My Mom did not want to drive with all the people crowded in the streets. My Dad had the bright idea, mind you, he is blind and deaf, to borrow a wheelchair for my Mom. She has arthritis in her knees and uses a walker to shuffle along. Dad would push her in the wheelchair, down the road to Main Street! They both got excited, it would be great fun!
The wheelchair was picked up from the office and taken back to their apartment. It was then decorated with fake green garland and blinking white lights. My parents donned their Christmas finery, warm coats, Santa hats, gloves and lap robe. They were ready to go!
With Mom in the wheelchair and Dad holding the rear handles, off they went! When they got to the end of sidewalk at the entrance to their complex, my Dad was huffing and puffing, pushing the chair with Mom in it, was a tad more strenuous than he thought. My Mom could hear his heavy breathing and voiced her concern, but Dad said he was fine. They would have to travel along the road, two blocks to Main Street, in the DARK!
Dad was pushing while Mom directed him at the top of her lungs. Dad was not hearing her. She was facing forward, he behind her, she yelled, THE CURB! They made it to Main Street without any catastrophic incidents. Now, once onto Main Street, they tried to make their way to the Art Center for the tree lighting, just another block away! The sidewalk was crowded with revelers. Dad was pushing, Mom was yelling, STOP, YOU ARE GOING TO RUN PEOPLE OVER! Dad, not hearing her, pushed on. A large dog, tugging at the end of his leash, bumped the wheelchair, the arm of the chair fell off. I’m sure Mom’s death grip might have had something to do with it. Dad started hollering, “What’s the matter with you, get that damn dog out of here, watch where you’re going!” Mom’s yelling at him to "pipe down". The dogs owner, said he was sorry, fixed the arm, said Merry Christmas and walked on.
Mom and Dad were both frustrated. Dad mostly because he could not see where he was going and was getting tired of getting yelled at. Mom, because Dad couldn't hear her and scared to death because she was being pushed head on into people.
Sounds like fun to me!
They reached the tree lighting and enjoyed the upfront seating, Dad being a Veteran and all. The ceremony and speech honoring the war heroes was quite beautiful and they both teared up. They chatted with the locals and enjoyed the music that was played by the band.
After the ceremony they thought it best if they headed back towards home. They were both exhausted and a bit frightened about the trip back, although neither one would admit it.
They slowly made their way back through the crowd to Sheffield Street and started the two block walk, back to their apartment. Dad was pushing the wheelchair with it’s fake green garland and blinking white lights. Mom in her Santa hat, riding with a death grip on the arms of the chair. Neither of them speaking a word.
Fifty yards or so down Sheffield Street, Dad was huffing and puffing so hard, Mom thought he was going to have a stroke. She yelled “STOP!” Which I’m sure could have been heard across town. Dad stopped. Mom wiggled and squirmed until she was standing. She inched her way around to the back of the wheelchair and insisted that my Dad get in! She, was going to push him! (I’m laughing out loud). I’m sure the air was blue! To her consternation, he wouldn’t hear of it! Mom, refused to get back in the chair. (It's a good thing neither of them are unreasonably obstinate.)
So, my ninety year old Mom, with arthritis in her knees, started pushing the empty chair, and my ninety two year old, blind and deaf Dad, hanging onto the right side of the wheelchair with the blinking lights, walked slowly, and I mean slowly, and in utter silence, the two of them, made their way home.
Dad unlocked the front door, helped get Mom and the wheelchair inside, hung up their coats, and without speaking went into his room and shut the door. Mom went to the cabinet and took a Valium, or nerve pill, as Mom calls it, and laid on the couch. Neither of them spoke a word the rest of the night.
I called Mom on Sunday morning to see how they were doing and she recounted the agonizing, “horrible” evening. I laughed so hard, I thought I’d wet my pants!!!!! If only they were wearing a helmet cam! We could have made millions! I told her to look at it from my perspective.....Mom started laughing. You can't make this up!
It’s been over six weeks now and the two of them can finally talk about “The Stroll”, and laugh. Dad decided pushing Mom around town in a wheelchair wasn't all that much fun. Mom said, it WAS a really nice evening, and they did receive some really “nice” greetings from all the “nice” people that came out to enjoy the Christmas Stroll.
Sitting on the couch together, holding hands, they both agreed, they won’t go on any more walking adventures, in the dark! They gave each other a kiss and a squeeze and started laughing.

But, they are currently talking about a ten day trip to Ireland, in May.
More laughs to come!