This year has proved to be challenging for my family so far.
My mother passed away at the beginning of the year and my stoic and heroic ninety-four year old father now resides in a care facility due to failing health and dementia.
Another chapter closed with my two sisters and our families undertaking the mammoth task of packing up the family home which our parents lived it for sixty-six years.
Selling the family home was the easy part, The packing, clearing and shifting is as joyful as a 6am alarm on a Sunday morning.
The big move was full of emotional ups and downs, the odd back strain and countless tea breaks, largely thanks to my brother in law calling for coffee breaks every 15 minutes.
In the midst of the packing, I received a call from a Producer at Channel 9 asking me if I could appear on Today Extra to discuss a recent article about the rental property market.
The next morning I took a siesta from the packing and made my way to the Wiloughby Studios. My first port of call was to make use of the makeup on offer, I didn’t want to scare viewers with a frail heart. I was ready for my lights, camera action five minute segment with Sonia and David.
On my way home I thought I would check in on the packing team back home to see if they needed anything.
My sister answered the phone in fits of laughter.
“What’s up? Did I stink up the screen?”
“No, no it’s dad”
“Is he alright, what’s he done?”
She was still catching her breath from laughing, “Denise ( my other sister) was up sitting with dad and he was dozing in his chair while she was reading a magazine…”
“She had dad’s telly on, but the sound was right down. Next thing, dad sat bolt upright, and pointed to the television and called out ‘I know him!’ Denise said, ‘It’s your son, Craig.’ ‘So it is – what’s he doing on there?’ “
My father was amused by my sisters laughing, a few nurses from the nursing home came to check what all the fuss was about and ended up watching my remaining two minutes of wisdom with the family
Selling the family home was a big first step and the unpacking certainly unforgettable, but dad’s reaction to seeing me on telly was certainly a nice way to end the big move. The lesson is that even in challenging moments humour and laughter will get you through.
He may be a bit down, but he is certainly knows how to keep the spirit of the family.
