Currently he's in a rehab center because he broke his hip, learning to walk again, so I can take care of him, again, at his home.
He and another veteran, maybe ten years younger, have been talking, a little. They recognized each other by their armed forces hats; one's a former Marine, the other was in the Army Air Force. One guy has a hard time communicating verbally, the other is nearly deaf. But they have respect for each other.
Today in the facility's dining room, the other guy stopped by to say "hi." I pointed to his Obama '12 button and made sure he knew I liked it. He smiled broadly. My father didn't say anything, but my Publican-bot sister said to me, "you would." Damn right I would, and I did.
Coincidentally, my father's absentee ballot arrived today, and I took it to him, and opened it up for him after dinner. He said he didn't want to vote. I honestly tried to get him to fill in at least some of the ovals, at least the Presidency, but he refused.
Having grown up Southern Batshit, I think he just couldn't vote for a Mormon, or maybe he's disgusted with his whole party (repigs). Who isn't?
I told him if he didn't want to vote, he had to tear up the ballot himself and put it in the trash. He did precisely that.
At least this year, we won't cancel each others' votes.
|
