Girl Scout Leave No Trace training

Yesterday Don, Evan and I conducted a Leave No Trace training session at Whipps Ledges in Hinckley for three Girl Scout troops from Medina. What a fun afternoon!

These kids were so exuberant and interested in what we had to say, it made our day. We gave them a little intro, then took them on a short hike up the hill and into the rock formations of the ledges. Stopping along the way, we instructed them on two or three LNT principles, then did exercises from the PEAK pack.

Don's presentation was the big hit, an activity called "How long does it last?" He gave them a list of 19 items and asked them to rank the items based on which ones would biodegrade first through nineteenth. The second part was to guess how long it would take each item to disappear. The correct answers ranges from two weeks to more than a million years!

Evan explained the principle of "leave what you find," a reference to archeological or historic artifacts, by creating a faux archeology dig for the girls. They had to find several items he had placed in the field, then decide what purpose each one might serve. At the end, I asked the girls whether they would have deduced as much as they did if previous visitors had removed the artifacts. It was obvious they understood the lesson.

Teaching these principles to young kids has become a rewarding experience for Don, Evan and me. We're hoping to offer our services to other groups in our area and hoping to make a positive difference in our community.

Watching Dad decline

Watching my father's health continue to decline has become such a challenge for me, especially while I'm searching for my next career opportunity.

Twelve days ago, I took him to SouthPointe Hospital with abdominal pains. After multiple CT scans, x-rays and an array of other procedures, probes and pokes, he remains there today with no end in sight. The only positive diagnoses were a urinary tract infection and MRSA, which have responded well to antibiotics.

Dad continuously pleads "Help me!" to any and all visitors, whether it's a loved one such as my sister Janet, myself or even a passing nurse. His dementia complicates things further, as he doesn't remember what any of the doctors tell him, nor does he understand why he's hospitalized in the first place. All he knows is that he feels poorly.

That being said, he isn't giving up on life, which is encouraging. He tells me he wants to go home, i.e., back to his assisted living home. He's said he misses my mom, but affirms he's not ready to be with her yet. All his life, he's been a fighter, so I have no doubt he just wants to feel better and go home.

I try my best for him, but feel it's just not enough. Today I spent several hours there, helping him to move to a chair, then to a portable commode, then back to the chair. The constant pleas for help are gut-wrenching and I wish I could do more.