Beginning of the End

In July of 2004, Mason had just completed a physical therapy appointment at St. Clair County Hospital. He had worked real hard that day and was able to stand with the support of the therapist for around :50 seconds.

He returned to his wheel chair and was assisted to the ground floor by one of the PT office girls. Mason always had an endearing charm with support staff. He had spent his career selling "on the road". He could sell dirt to an someone afflicted with OCD. The way to sale began in the front office. If you could charm the girls up front, they would let you through to the man who could sign the sales contract.

In the early days, dad's products were more tangible. Anyone can understand the allure of a sports car, a chemical that could effortlessly clean your house or a cemetary plot. Try selling the abstract... ESP's extended service policies or credit life insurance. The definition of which I am still only 85% clear on. Mason would traverse every two road highway in Alabama and find merchants to sign the sales contract. Every town no matter how small has not only a post office and gas station, but also a credit furniture store and buy here/ pay here used car lot. Mason kept them stocked with the ancillary. They ranged from the advanced like the silent radio a led device with attached keyboard to the gyp special. My favorite was the Sales Memory Kit. It was a Poloroid and 3x5 filing box with cards which had blanks to fill in. Name, address, number and hobbys.

Nancy pushed Dad out to overhang and helped him transfer from the wheel chair to the driver seat. They nervously worked together But this time Dad could not shift his weight. It was hot and the humidity was high. Dad worked real hard that day but never had he had this much trouble getting into the car. They managed though and Mason drove himself home. The transfer from the car and then to the wheel chair and then to his bed took every ounce of energy he could muster.

He slept for a day and a half.

When he awoke his mobility had diminished. Previously, Mason could easily tranfer from the bed to the wheel chair to the toliet to the wheel chair to the navy blue recliner. Now, the slope of the transfer board between the bed and the wheel chair
presented him with a ten minute battle.