This week, I set up service with the county for bus rides for Dad, to and from his Alzheimer disease respite care program. He had seen the bus around town and was interested in trying it.

On Monday, Dad woke up at the crack of dawn, ready, waiting and anxious for the bus to come, which wasn’t due until 10 a.m. Thankfully, it arrived early.

Dad was the only passenger, but he was warmly welcomed by Octavio the bus driver. Dad fumbled nervously with the payment…but got it all figured out. And when he sat down in his seat, my sister (who happened to be visiting for the day) and I waved at him, feeling strangely like mothers putting a nervous new kindergartner on the school bus.

“Make good choices, Dad!” I called out before the doors closed and the bus drove off.