Continue?

Monday, April 29, 9:30am
In wheelchair, in lounge.

Kathleen and I have come to move things out of his old private room, and into his shared room in the Special Care unit.

I look Bernie up and there is much activity in the lounge. I can't hear him, and ask if it's ok we go to the enclosed patio.  "Good"

It was warm and the flowers were all bright. We find a place in the shade. "How are things Bernie?" "Terrible, as usual" "Oh Bernie, what is it?"  "Continue continue continue continue continue continue..." and five more times "continue." His breath was shallow and quick. He seemed agitated and spoke with his eyes closed.

Finally, he slowly reaches down and unties his right shoe and points to the heal.  "There are weights in the heal and it is too heavy to walk." His new white Rockport walkers were all he could talk about.

"Kathleen and I have come to move your things to your new room." "Ok" "We'll check with you before we leave." "Good"

Kathleen moves pictures and framed prints, all Bernie's clothes, personal items, crucifixes, and chalice.  I disconnect the telephone, cable tv and computer.  There is no room for his large easy chair or bookcase.  Most of the items in the bookcase were unread magazines of the past year. We move the empty compact refrigerator Bernie had asked for into short term storage. Four nightstand clocks were reduced to one.

It took all day and we went to say goodbye nearly 7:00pm and he was in his bed, asleep. 

We asked Alice about transferring his telephone.  She suggested we wait a few days.  "Most of the time he won't be in his room and won't be able to answer. Let's see if he wants it. Have his friends call the main number, and ask for Father Brennan in the Care Unit. We'll bring Bernie to the phone."