Fighter pilot father-in-law "scores" again

[Yoda]

Some of you may recall a note I posted earlier this year about my 90-year-old WWII fighter pilot ace father-in-law, who took a shot at a burgler in the middle of the night with a .410 shotgun.

I credit him with yet another victory, but of another kind.

He's now taking some anti-siezure drugs, and they give him vivid dreams. The past few nights, he's found himself waking up after walking through the house, and he's even carried on conversations in his sleep with my wife/his daughter, telling her that he's going dancing. He also says he's had some nightmares. Last night, he walked outside and woke up after he fell into a garden.

My wife and I talked things over, and we decided that we'd have to take the two guns out of her father's room. If he had the wrong sort of waking dream, someone could get hurt. We also decided to put some alarms on his door to wake someone up if he left his room.

So, where is the "victory?" Before we could talk to him about removing the guns, he came to us and asked us to put them somewhere else, and to be sure they were unloaded, so he wouldn't accidently hurt anyone. So, maybe the drugs give him some pretty "rough" nights (his words), but in the light of day, he can still think safe and sane.

Score another one for the old man.

- - - Yoda

 

[armoredman]

Kudos to the hero, and I don't use that word lightly.

 

[AJChenMPH]

Ditto, and tell him "thanks" from an active-duty servicemember for paving the way.

 

[GRIZ22]

Before we could talk to him about removing the guns, he came to us and asked us to put them somewhere else, and to be sure they were unloaded, so he wouldn't accidently hurt anyone.

A real man knows what a real man is supposed to do. Hope he doesn't have to take those drugs too long and he stays in good health.

Please remind us when his 100th birthday is coming!

 

[Shung]

Salute! to a WWII pilot !

 

[czarjl]

I know this type of decision is hard, but he really stepped up…again.

Its to bad that you can’t take that type of personal responsibility and put it in the water. If more people were like that we would all be a lot better off.

 

[kingpin008]

Good for him.

According to my dad (now pushing 74) "getting old is hard", and it's gotta be frustrating to come to terms with things like this. Good for him for knowing his limits, and handling the situation the way it needed to be handled.

 

[skoro]

Wishing your hero father in law all the best in the autumn of his days.

We need to appreciate the remaining WWII vets while we still can. Especially those with extensive combat experience.

 

[Paul Kersey]

A true man.

 

[hso]

He's proven that he's still cool in a crisis.

Suggest he talk to his Dr. about consulting with a sleep specialist who may be able to help with the side effects of the anti seizure med. It would be unfortunate for him to wake up in a situation more serious than falling into the garden.

 

[Smokey Joe]

Kudos...

Yoda--My prayers and good wishes to both you and your alert, responsible, aging, FIL. What a tough decision he had to make. Sometimes, safe gun handling is to not handle 'em--the trick is knowing when.

More power to you and to him--as Dr. Seuss said, "Growing old ain't for sissies."

 

[peyton]

Perhaps it is time to put a chain lock on the doors, slow him down from getting outside so easily. Or a door alarm, the noise would wake him out of his sleep walking. He should talk to the doctor, this is not a normal reaction to a drug.

 

[Norinco982lover]

What an awesome person!