Page 37 - Senior Link Magazine Spring 2022 - Online Magazine

SENIOR 2 SENIOR
weekend to spend the night with my nana and
papa. All I can remember about those times was
that I would walk around the halls of the high
school with him, talking to teachers, feeding the
fish in the library, and drinking my first cups
of coffee. Following his term as superintendent,
both my nana and papa retired and moved to
Littlefield, TX. I remember going to his house
every weekend just like I had when he lived
in Earth. Every weekend I went, we would go
to Lubbock to the Science Spectrum or to the
movies, or he would play video games with me.
I remember watching cartoons, eating oatmeal,
and talking with him in the morning. Every
minute I spent with papa was the best time I
ever spent. I would not trade those moments
with him for anything else.
I love my papa with all of my heart, but lately,
I have felt hatred towards something out of
my and his control. Papa was diagnosed with
Dementia, and my family has felt every effect.
At first, he was fine; it was the basic forgetting
things here and there but nothing major.
However, as time has progressed, his mind has
gotten worse. Papa is now forgetting people
and forgetting names. It has become even
harder because, as much as I want to believe he
remembers me, he has forgotten my name, and
I am no longer sure that he remembers me. The
man I love does not even remember me, my own
papa.
While things are not like they once were, I still
love my papa. I occasionally go to see him and
spend some time talking to him. I want to spend
as much time as possible with him because I love
him, and I would regret it otherwise. My papa
was a huge influence in my life and in the lives
of many other people. My papa is no longer a leader,
but he is still the kindest, most precious man I know –
I want to be just like him.
Article Submitted by
Aidan McDonald FARWELL ISD
Aidan McDonald is the son of Josh
and Kristen McDonald. His hobbies
include woodworking, flying, and
playing music. He is involved in his
school’s University Interscholastic
League (UIL) program where he
competes in congressional speech,
persuasive speaking, current
events, and mathematics. He is
the vice president of the Farwell
High School student council and
the treasurer of the FHS National
Honor Society chapter. He will
be attending Cornell University
next fall where he will major in
agricultural sciences to prepare
himself for a career in agricultural
policy.
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