Taking Grandpa Roskelley to the bathroom – by Tia

During the last few years of Grandpa Roskelley’s life (that lasted much longer than any of us would have guessed) he came to our house each Sunday for dinner. Melba would get to spend the afternoon with Owen and we’d take Grandpa to our house. He would “amuse”/gross out the very young Skyler and Haylie by taking his teeth out after lunch. One particular Sunday Dad went home teaching with Mom and left Grandpa sitting in the living room. Most went off to find a soft spot for a nap. Before long Grandpa got my attention and told me that he had to go to the bathroom. Dad had always had the “job” of taking him and I had no idea what to do. I knew that since he was so senile that he was in diapers, and while I changed the grandkids often, our 93 or 94 year old Grandpa Roskelley was a whole different story! I looked around for help and called around the house for anyone to come and help me, but mysteriously everyone was “asleep” (thanks a lot Laura!). So I helped Grandpa up and walked him to the bathroom. It was terrible. Being just 14 years old I had no idea what I was getting myself into, to say the least! I had to help him with his clothes and help him sit on the toilet. This is the part that gets really scary…so read at your own risk. Apparently, growing up during the depression had Melba being as frugal as she could be. Stuffed inside his visibly used-more-than-once diaper were dish towels! I was mortified! The worst was yet to come, he finished his business and then leaned forward in order to facilitate me cleaning him up. Oh, my. It was more than my full stomach could handle and I gagged my way through the ordeal. Poor Grandpa. Poor me! Thanks a lot Laura, I know you weren’t really sleeping!