T - Day redux

Didn't have to visit anyone in the hospital for the second year in a row. Spend one Thanksgiving in a hospital seeing a lifeless form will stick with your memory a while.
Seems like yesterday. I think that was the last time I've been to my parents' house. I remember dropping off the kids at my in-laws' before heading there. I got a flat tire backing out of their driveway, so I detoured to Tire Discounters to get a new tire so not to motor away on a donut 220 miles. The tire was on in a jiff and I went straight to the hospital. I hadn't been to that hospital since before I learned to drive, so I am not sure how I got there unless I had directions printed. I remember calling my mom from the parking lot, since I had no idea which room to go. I doubt I could have seen my father in ICU without her being there, especially since he who is in a coma can't vouch for his son's right to visitation.
The next day was Thanksgiving, so I stayed the night and left the next morning for home from the hospital.
Once home, we went to J's aunt's, which is our tradition. We did as much today. Eating turkey, mash potatoes, random vegetable, and cinnamon bread with the extended family from J's side.
We usually stay five hours since its a good 45 minute drive there. It makes for a memorable day that tends to blur with other days that follow such pattern.
I remember last year thinking about my dad being in a coma the year before and how it seemed as though it never happened. I know my dad isn't well, but chronic pain is different than pneumonia. People don't cease to live from back pain, which is good since he's going to be in a lot of pain before he will be a candidate for corrective surgery. He found out yesterday that his doctor won't consider fixing his back unless he was at the point he couldn't stand the pain. My dad's bones are so destroyed by his medications/steroids that he could snap his bones and die from the internal damage.
My kids really don't know my folks. I am not the type that visits for the sake of visiting. I really don't like going "home." There's nothing there aside from memories of dread.
I hope my kids don't feel that way when they are adults.
I am thankful for my family. I'm terribly flawed, but I've a wonderful wife, son and daughter.
Life is not scripted and each day is blank slate. I may not be where I want to be, but no one is stopping me from working towards the person I want to be but myself. When I cease being my worst enemy, then I will be free to be truly happy without the prompting of others.