After my last post I thought I would share two stories. A couple of weeks ago we had another incident on an Interstate just north of Houston, close to where we live. It’s another funny yet sad tale. In the middle of the night, police officers noticed an elderly lady driving a Buick (isn’t it always a Buick?) down the center lane of Interstate 45. She had no lights on and although the police tried to pull her over, she continued on her trek. If she had kept going she would have either caused a major accident or ended up in the Gulf of Mexico. They decided that the safest thing was to lay a strip to burst the tires which was successful but then she kept going on the wheel rims until finally she came to a stop.
When they got her out of the car, she was a disheveled older lady who probably had a dementia of some sort. She must have a guardian angel because no-one was injured and hopefully she now has the care she needs. This was on the main thoroughfare between Houston, Dallas and further north. Every month or so, we have what is now called a Silver Alert on the road signs, asking us to look out for an elderly driver who has run away from home. Guess what 90% of them drive – BUICKS!
We were so fortunate that Teddy’s mum who had Alzheimer’s disease had long since stopped driving and was not inclined to do so. That said, one of the neighbors found her ‘repairing’ the top of the garage (at the top of ladders), she ran away from the mall and generally caused havoc with her many disappearing tricks. Teddy’s Dad had not lost his faculties but he was too old to be driving but no-one could persuade him to stop. Both sides of the car were scraped along the side where he had misjudged the garage. Now that both have passed on, our grief is being mellowed with humorous memories. Teddy had been scanning old photos and found this receipt in his Dad’s driving licence. We both burst out laughing because it brought back Dad’s obsession with keeping receipts, putting them in strange places and in this case misspelling BRASSIERES. Only a man of 93 would refer to them in such a way.
they look like Hollywood film stars! glad nothing happened to the lady or anyone else. you just reminded me to put on my brassiere 🙂
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LOL!
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I thought so too ! 👍
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Thank you Pan!
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Wow. Unbelievable but I know that happens as my father was in the same spot a while back. Didn’t know his way home. The police finally pulled his license. I’m not sure if it was a buick or not. I live 2700 miles away from my home town.
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We lived even further and it is so difficult when you live far from home. Glad the police pulled his license – it gives you one less thing to worry about.
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Yes but he passed away last year so now we only have to care for mama. Stubborn. She doesn’t want to go into a home. She is 87
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Oh, I am sorry for your loss. Teddy’s Dad was SO stubborn and didn’t go into a home until he was 93…
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Damn, banned from your own hometown??
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What?
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I didn’t get the reference either. 🙂
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Maybe the medication didn’t kick in lol
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😉
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Oh the picture is wonderful – very glamorous. How unfortunate it is the older we get that someday we too may be the ones that are related to the silver alerts. Hopefully not. TGIF! 🙂
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LOL – that’s what I was thinking. First we are worried about health care and now driving… 🙂
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Andy’s parents look lovely Kerry.
Liben x
>
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Thank you!
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I will never tell my dad, but I had a hand in his license being revoked. He kept getting distracted and driving over the center line. Scary!
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You were quite right and I know a few people that have done that for their parents. It’s strange when we become their caregivers.
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Uncomfortable at times, but necessary.
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My dad just turned 88 and still drives.. and still drives better than most people in florida regardless of age.. He really does amaze me.. Even so, we both realize the day will come when he’ll need to give up driving..
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Every person is different and your Dad might be able to drive for years yet. Sometimes it is medical impairments or CATARACTS 🙂 that cause the problem not just age. Long may he be healthy enough to drive.
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Brassieres. Haven’t heard that in years. LOL
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It is just hilarious. We realized that he had never referred to lingerie in our earshot before. 🙂
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I love that word and bloomers, too. lol
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I still call panties – knickers!
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lol
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I had no idea about Silver Alerts! Learned something new today. 🙂
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They seem to be new in this area. Not sure if every state is doing them. Good idea though because it catches your attention immediately much like an Amber Alert.
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Bloomers 😂
You do not want to peek in my imagination and see what I see 😨
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ha, ha, ha!
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You peeked Kerry and laughed.. oh the warped and twisted humor ! 💛
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I did peek… 🙂
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Love it!!
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Had to re-read that – I thought you’d written ‘I hope she got the car she needs.’ 🙂 It’s good if you can see humour in a sad situation, as long as the underlying issues aren’t treated lightly.
A pity the many warning signs weren’t heeded before that guy flew the plane into the Alps a few months back.
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Yes, the professionals who treated him were to blame in my opinion. It’s not really feasible to be a pilot with a very serious mental illness and they should have known that.
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