William Shakespeare once wrote:
“With mirth and laughter, let old wrinkles come.”
And I’m thinking…m’kay…Willie’s pen must have had a wee bit too much wine behind it. Because – and perhaps a little more sober – he also wrote:
“Have you not a moist eye, a dry hand, a yellow cheek, a white beard, a decreasing leg, an increasing belly? Is not your voice broken, your wind short, your chin double, your wit single, and every part about you blasted with antiquity?”
Well, typically — and especially this time of year — moist eye, a dry hand and yellow cheek I can handle with a little help from antihistamines, moisturizers and borrowing some of my oldest daughter’s acne creme. As for the rest…eh…crack open a bottle of my favorite California merlot…and I’m with Willie.
But tonight the bottle sits nearly full as I scratch at an angry rash, squint at my laptop and wonder, “What the f*ck kind of post title is that?!?”
I mean, yeah — it’s been a hell-of-a-week and it’s only Wednesday (I think) and I’ve spent nearly eighteen hours, in three different hospitals, taking care of four family members in the last two weeks — I’m dead-dog tired, but I’m reluctant to go to sleep for fear of further punishment from the asshole that gave me the evil eye.
First, it was my MIL — falling down the stairs and then hospitalized again for pneumonia — then, my SIL — long story — followed shortly thereafter by my mother — hospitalized for pneumonia — and then my father — stayed with him fearing his a) missing my mom too much, b) his bronchitis would turn overnight and c) he’d be joining my mother — and last but not least, yesterday.
My FIL wasn’t feeling well and needed help getting to his doctor.
Zoom-zoom-zoom.
After the three oldest got off to school, the youngest and I picked up my FIL and folded prescription sheets into little paper airplanes while his doctor tried to figure out just what in the hell was going on with the top of his head, his face and his left eye.
GASP!
What if it’s contageous?!?
Well, yes — I know it wasn’t very kind of me — but, I did very much believe at that very moment that perhaps I had pretty much played out any chance of catching a break, anytime soon.
“Please call me if you need anything else, ‘kay!”
I had way too much to do and I really couldn’t stay, so I called my husband to let him know that his Dad was going to be okay.
“No sweat, go ahead and get your Costco stuff done, I’ll pick up Dad’s meds during my lunch hour.”
Remember, I hadn’t been home long enough to shop in a week and had…like…no food….and it took me two hours between loading, unloading, loading…well, you know. And I was able to at least get the perishables put away before the phone rang.
“Um…no…not too good…as a matter of fact…I’m taking Dad to the emergency room.”
The rest of the afternoon is pretty much a blur — except I vaguely remember breaking down in a parking lot, in front of about a half a dozen girl scout moms, and cursing at least twice while teaching my daughter’s troop a Hungarian dance and my cell phone wouldn’t stop ringing — but, I do remember putting away the rest of the Costco order, finally looking up at the clock around 9:00 p.m., giving the kids a free pass on showers and my husband walking in the front door well after 10:00 p.m.
[sipping on some merlot]
“How’s he doin’, Sweetie?”
[grabs glass and steals a sip]
“Luckily it’s only shingles and you did tell me that the kids all had their shots, yes?!?”
[takes back glass and downs it with one swallow]
“Yes, but too bad I’ve never had the chicken pox!”
It’s 1:00 a.m. — do you know where your children’s immunization charts are?”
…..to be continued
Comments
18 responses to “There is no such thing as luck; “luck” is nothing but an absence of bad luck!”
OMG!! I have no idea where my kids immunization charts are… now I’m panicing. Hell I don’t even know where half my kids are!
May all the parental unit get to felling better – for the sake of your sanity!
OMG!! I have no idea where my kids immunization charts are… now I’m panicing. Hell I don’t even know where half my kids are!
May all the parental unit get to felling better – for the sake of your sanity!
Oh NO, honey! You can’t get chicken pox! You know, a lot of people who manage to get to adulthood without ever having had it actually DID have a very mild case (and built immunity) as some point. Hopefully that’s true for you. *fingers crossed*
Oh NO, honey! You can’t get chicken pox! You know, a lot of people who manage to get to adulthood without ever having had it actually DID have a very mild case (and built immunity) as some point. Hopefully that’s true for you. *fingers crossed*
Oh my gosh! What a crazy week you have had! I say lock yourself in the house with a bottle of merlot and and a vat of GermX and try to pass on any more caregiving if you can! Hang in there and HUGS! Hope the chickenpox fairy skips on to the next town.
Oh my gosh! What a crazy week you have had! I say lock yourself in the house with a bottle of merlot and and a vat of GermX and try to pass on any more caregiving if you can! Hang in there and HUGS! Hope the chickenpox fairy skips on to the next town.
oh my god, Liz, what a week. Fingers crossed for everyone in your family; I’ll keep you in my prayers.
oh my god, Liz, what a week. Fingers crossed for everyone in your family; I’ll keep you in my prayers.
Your family is in my prayers – I honestly don’t know how you do it! They’re so lucky to have you. ^_^
Your family is in my prayers – I honestly don’t know how you do it! They’re so lucky to have you. ^_^
healthy thoughts your way. We were sick but now you’re making me feel ‘lucky’
healthy thoughts your way. We were sick but now you’re making me feel ‘lucky’
Oh no! Liz, I hope it doesn’t end with YOU getting CP.
Oh no! Liz, I hope it doesn’t end with YOU getting CP.
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