Unfailing Love

"The bridge is out!"
I shrieked to a halt...unable to cross. Sweating, I awoke. I lay in the cold morning. The bridge is out? Why did I dream that?

I had everything all set for Comer to visit the lovely small Senior home that morning, a place that had offered to let Comer and Evelyn have a trial apartment together, where they hoped both the Alzheimer and assisted living needs could be met. But when I called to tell Comer I was on my way, he said his daughter was dead set against any moves of Evelyn.
"I don't wish to cause any controversies," said this gentle man, "I thought about it all night, but perhaps it is best if we stay where we are."
I of course didn't argue, though I, unlike sweet Comer, am often a little too willing to start controversies. However, my spirit crumpled a little.
But I rallied, and said,"How about if I take you and Evelyn to Lake Norman then? On the way we'll get the best burger and fries in Charlotte. I'll bring TV trays for your laps and we can have a car picnic. You can sit in the back and hold hands again."
"That sounds nice!" he said.
Comer, though having lived in Charlotte for12 years had never seen Lake Norman and it was one of his dreams. Asherel joined us on this jaunt, lured by the promise of Five Guys burgers and fries.

We had to finish our trebuchet practice first. Josh asked why we had to end by 11:15. Asherel explained our lunch plans.
"I want to drive with old people too so I can go to Five guys!" cried Josh.

I left Asherel in the car as Comer and I went up to get Evelyn from the Alzheimer unit. She seemed weaker, less steady on her feet, and her smile was feeble, like a light-bulb slowly fading.
"This time I am certain we will find french fries," I told her as we walked slowly to the door.
She looked blank.
I took her cold, gnarled hands in mine,"We are going to have an adventure, Evelyn!"
"An adventure...." she said, with a sliver of a smile.
Comer put his arm around her shoulder and rubbed her back.

When we approached the car, Evelyn saw Asherel who smiled and waved. Evelyn, though a neighbor for 12 years, had had little interaction with Asherel.
"Asherel is joining us," I said, helping Evelyn in her seat.
"Hi Asherel!" said Evelyn, with the beaming smile I had noticed was absent up to that point. I felt certain that she recognized Asherel, and she even said her name correctly which most people without Alzheimers do not.

As we headed to Lake Norman, Comer sinking his teeth into a burger with "the works", and Evelyn ignoring the burger completely but eating the fries like the potatoe famine was imminent, my cell phone rang.
"Mom," said Matt, "My hand is broken. The doctor says it is a good bone to break since it is in the middle of my hand and the other tendons and bones kept it straight. He casted it and so I have to wear that for 6 weeks."
Matt had broken his hand playing Frisbee. Then he was attacked by a dog while jogging.
"Did you find out whether the dog that attacked you is up to date on his rabies vaccine?" I asked.
"Well, I drove by the place, and I think it might have been a private road. I don't want to have them turn on me and charge me with trespassing."
"Did it say it was a private road?"
"No."
"Well dear, my recommendation is that you let Animal Control check it out, or the police. . Rabies is fatal and incurable, but it's your choice. It's just that I would really miss you. Where would you want me to spread the ashes?"
The dog didn't break skin, says Matt, though it did scratch him and leave a welt. Even that had quickly disappeared. I think Rabies is highly unlikely, but poor Matt has had a string of misfortune lately. The stars don't seem to be aligning for him. If I were him, I wouldn't play any poker, and I would get the rabies checked out.....

The first view of Lake Norman burst into view.
"Well lookie there!" said Comer, "I finally get to see Lake Norman."
We sat in the car, munching french fries and I pulled up to the shore.
A sailboat gracefully glided on the sparkling water. Otherwise the lake was empty.
"Isn't it beautiful, Evelyn?" I asked.
She ate her french fries and said, "Beautiful...." but I never saw her eyes rest on the lake. They looked straight ahead, at the back of Asherel's curly head.
"See the boat over there?" I urged, directing her gaze. She turned briefly to look at it.
"Oh yes, I see....."

As we drove home, we went through downtown Charlotte, which Comer said he had also never seen. It had been a long drive and I knew they both were tired. Evelyn finished her fries and Comer wrapped her untouched burger for later. We all were silent. I was contemplating broken bones and rabies, and Asherel was listening to The Beatles on her ipod. Comer and Evelyn sat holding hands quietly, looking out the window.
Suddenly out of the silence, Evelyn said, "It was nice that she took us for a drive."
"Yes Mother," said Comer, patting her hand, "It sure was."
"Did you enjoy it Evelyn?" I asked.
"Yes...enjoyed it....."

We talked about WW2, which Asherel is studying right now. Comer had been in the first battle that the Japanese had ever waged against US troops in New Guinea. I asked him what his thoughts were on whether we should have dropped the atom bomb. It was the same question I had asked Asherel yesterday in the eternal hope that she is forming opinions, integrating facts, and synthesizing deep thoughts. She hates those kinds of questions.
"Absolutely," said Comer, "It was the only way to end the war. They weren't going to stop til every man, woman, and child was dead. Do you know the pilot's uniform was just a breech clout....we called them diapers. They weren't dressed to leave that airplane alive."
He recounted his experiences for a little while, and then said, "There is never a reason good enough to start a war. But I believe the Bible says that there will be an increase in wars...that wars will never go away. Doesn't it?"
"It does," I said, "Not here on earth. We humans are too selfish."
I glanced in the mirror and saw him still holding Evelyn's hand. At least most of us are, I thought.

I helped our old friends out of the van, first Evelyn at the Alzheimer unit and then Comer at the Assisted Living building. I had a twinge of disappointment over the lost chance at an apartment together.
"Next Thursday?" I asked Comer," What is Evelyn's favorite food?"
"Fried chicken!"
"Then how about KFC for lunch next Thursday?"
"That would be nice," he said smiling, and walked slowly up the sidewalk.

"That was nice," said Asherel as I sat back down in the car.
Somehow I had expected her to ask why I had shouted all my questions to the partially deaf Comer, or to ask why I had acted like such an overly enthusiastic little kid marveling at a sailboat out loud, or what good it had done to drive 2 hours to see a lake? But she didn't. And my heart was not so heavy.

Isaiah 54:9-11

¹⁰ Though the mountains be shaken
   and the hills be removed,
yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken
   nor my covenant of peace be removed,”
   says the LORD, who has compassion on you.

Hosea 2:19
I will betroth you to me forever; I will betroth you in righteousness and justice, in love and compassion.