Hallucinations and Dickery
There is no freaking dignity with aging and illness and death. None.
And let me point out yet again that I would make a horrible nurse. Me and the gag reflex.
Oh, they found her hearing aids. They were in her sheets.
O.k......so last night I raced over to the hospital after work. My mother was almost giggly. Hmmmm. She told me that she was seeing things. "uhhhh, like what Mom?" "Well, this afternoon I thought there was a banana on my bed," she giggled, "and Sarah finally said to the nurse 'does this stuff cause hallucinations because she's seeing a banana" My mother seemed amused by the whole thing saying that she figured someone had left the banana for her to eat so she tried to eat it but Sarah wouldn't let her. Huh....o.k. then. She also complained about not being able to change channels on the telephone and seemed confused by a news story about soldiers returning from Iraq (she kept asking me, "WHERE are they coming from?" in amazement). Every so often she'd look at me and tell me that she just couldn't control what was coming out of her mouth. At least she was cheerful.
It was a rather long visit....
I eventually made it home after another trot through the hospital corridors and three elevators. I've been there so much that I notice when spots are cleaned off the floor or when they polish the leaves on plants in the hallways. I must admit I will be pleased when they reopen the parking garage so you don't have to hike over to the garage by the cancer center but I suppose it's good exercise....
Our wonderful babysitter Carolyn was there waiting so Ernie and I headed out and went for a drink at Fries and Peanuts. "Look" I said to the bartender, "I'm out after dark!!!!" She was properly impressed and then we had the treat of running into the redoubtable and lovely Lori.
Eventually we walked over to the Highdive to see Band of Heathens. It felt great to be out and we had a lovely time although we were both underwhelmed by the band. Way too jam band-esque for me. Maybe when they started lighting incense all over the stage it should have tipped me off. They're obviously talented and the crowd liked them.....just not my thing. Do you remember the hue and cry when Smile Politely called something electronic dickery? Well, there was just too much guitar dickery for me last night. Now I love good guitar dickery as next as the much person but I like it when it's wound up inside the structure of good song. It's kind of like the difference between 19th century pieced quilts and applique quilts. Some people like the appliqued ones that could take any form but I always found that that the quilts that created incredible color and power WITHIN the structure of a pieced quilt to be much more powerful. Anyway.....just too much guitar dickery for me.....
Despite that we had a good time----it felt really good to be out with my husband. It'll give me that little extra oomph that I'll need for my visit to the hospital this evening.....
and look at the gorgeous frost on my nasturtiums....