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September 20, 2003
Mixed Blessings
I got my Ring back on Friday. I was so excited. However I STILL haven’t been in touch with my Dad. (He really needed that phone time for a cab)Drew and I decided earlier not to wait on my dad any longer than a week to tell family.
Drews (maternal) Grand-parents Are down for the weekend and his two uncles and family will be coming to visit as well so we decided to tell them ALL at onceWe stopped by my moms to tell her and phoned my (maternal) Grandpa to tell him as well, Lots of hugs and stuff. Then off to Drew’s parents' house
As we are Driving down the street we see everyone’s car Parked there earlier than expected -->Quick game plan, Walk in with newly fitted ring on finger and announce our engagement to all ( Nervous excitement abounds)
As we park Drews Father and Uncle are driving out of the driveway. They stop to inform us Drews Grandfather has had a TIC wich is a smaller version of a stroke, earlier that day and is at the hospital. They are going to visit with him and it is a half our until visiting hours close. We hop in the car to go see him ( I took my ring off my finger and stuffed it in my pocket not a tactful time to tell anyone.)
Drews Grandfather lost most of his Motor skills and speech abilities. He still has full and compete understanding of what you say, he just can't make out the words to tell you what he thinks about it. He tried to communicate through body gestures and words that come out as mostly grunts. This is the 6th time it has happened to him, so although he knows how to recover this, It makes him even weaker than he was before
After we got backed to the house it was rather packed. While we could fit everyone in (including Drew and I) it would mean one would end up on the couch the other in Drew’s old bed. I decided I would call my (paternal) Grandmother and see if I could stay at her house. After I got there I realized how exhausted I was. I told her about Drews Grandfather, But not the engagement. Went to bed almost right away.
The Next morning after Breakfast while I sit there with my Grandma and Grandpa my Grandma tells me she hasn't been able to get a hold of my dad. I tell her that I was the last person to probably speak with him as he ran out of his phone time. He just has to get more soon. (fishing for the right question) I tell her its too bad I can't get in touch with him, because I have something important to tell him. ( hook line and sinker) She asks me what it is. I Pull my ring box with the ring in it out and say "I wanted to tell him about this" She stares at the box, now sitting on the edge of her seat, and excitedly asks "what is that" I saidd "it's a ring box with my engagement ring in it... I'm engaged. This came with a sudden waterfall of tears from my grandmother who told me how wonderful a man Drew is. That it would be hard for me to ever match his qualities with anyone else, and how much she has been waiting for this. It was really nice to get that reaction from her.
After Drew picked me up (and he was smothered in Grandma kisses) we went to visit his Grandpa at the hospital.
He was doing much better today, he had a few phrases Like "I Hope", and "I wish" and "I want". He is feeding himself easier and with patients we could communicate his biggest concerns. Like him hating being in the hospital, and he is worried about how long it will be before he recovers. Drew ad I decided we were going to tell him about our engagement. A little worried that if it was a very emotional thing for him it could cause a problem. But he also seemed like he needed some good news and to be in on something that no one else knew about.
So we told him we had a secret, and that if we told him he couldn't tell anyone else (We got a laugh from him about that, how is he supposed to tell a secret) Then Drew Said " Grandpa I asked Becca to marry me and She said yes... We are engaged" I pulled out the ring and showed it to him. He started to tear and pulled me in for a hug and kissed me on the head. Then he was bursting with questions and didn't know how to say them. With patients he slowly got a few out like how did he propose and when are you getting married?
We Asked him when he thought we should tell people (we hope our translation is correct) but he said he would like to tell everyone in 3 days. I hope this means he is going to be trying to get his speech back by then.
Even by the time we left about an hour later, we think he improved significantly with his conversation.
It's been a strange few days. I am exhausted and so is Drew. we hope everything turns out OK. But until then we will be keeping our secret. I really hope telling his Grandpa gave him a reason to fight this.
Getting close to bed time now I'll keep everyone updated
~Becca