It was Christmas 2006 and my dad wanted an expensive digital camera as a present. He had enough money saved up for it, but I was in charge of his finances because he has Alzheimer’s Disease, and he was unable to control his own money. I had told him that since he didn’t have a computer and he was prone to losing things, it wasn’t a smart purchase, but he could use an older camera of mine any time he wanted. That Christmas morning we gathered around to open presents, and when he opened up his last present and he became red-faced and furious that he didn’t have a camera. He threw his stuff down and stormed out of the house.
A month later, I was in danger of saving more of his money than his benefits would allow, so I decided for his birthday, I would buy him that camera. He was so thrilled and happy, and it meant the world to him.
Then he lost it the next day when he took it to the river to take pictures.
Merry Christmas, Everyone!