My step mom put my dad in a nursing home that was supposed to be secure. He managed to get out - twice! Once he just walked onto the elevator with a group of visitors. He was wearing street clothes and they just thought he was a visitor too.

The second time, he got out because he had watched the staff punch in the code that opened the door to the stair way. It was our zip code. Well, he wasn't as dumb as they though. He just punched the number in and got out. He managed to walk several miles to the motel where my step mom worked. She was sure surprised to find him in the lobby waiting for her!!!

Bless his heart; he had made it half way home!!!

One of the hardest things for him was having to stop driving. He loved cars and was the best shade tree mechanic I've ever seen. He always asked where my car was parked. I kept my keys safely in my pocket just in case.

I really miss him on Memorial Weekend. We always watched the Indy 500 together. Even when he was in the nursing home, I would go watch it with him. I don't think he realized which race it was by then but he still loved watching the cars.