How you doing Harry?
How you doing Sue?
Through the to many miles and the to little smiles.....
Oh hello. Wow. Where do I even think to re-begin? It's been a rough time lately. Long winded stories. Funny I think of the stories before that I recounted and I smile.
So who's out there? Anyone? Shall I continue? Shall I start afresh. Give me a sign.
Sunday, June 19, 2016
Tuesday, August 4, 2015
The Pale Priest of the Mute People
Seldom does the phone ring at that hour with good news. Such was the case. My Brother in law came and said the center just called and my sister had died.
I was fully awake. Got dressed and we left the house shortly afterwards. Silence. To be expected. I made some light humor about how great the traffic was at that hour.
We got there, didn't have to sign in. They'd cleaned her and did her hair. Was a shock to say the least. Sunk in rather quickly.
Apparently about 11:30 she had called the nurse for something. They came in and she was sitting up. The nurse left to get an aide and when they returned she was slumped over. Of course they did what they could. Had E.M.T's come. She was gone. The hallways were deserted of inmates at that time.
They would store her downstairs but we needed to make arrangements. They didn't really have a morgue. Brother in law took her wallet, phone, and IPad. We went home. I made no jokes about the traffic.
There was little to do at that hour. Said we could make calls at 5 to immediate family. There was nothing anyone could do. I left 2 messages with Dr.s that I'd made an appointment with that morning and afternoon.
To their credit his brother and sister drove 2 hours and were there by 7 or 8. That is about all the credit I will give them.
We went to get the rest of her things. His brother didn't like where I told him to park so he spent the rest of his time looking for parking. It is tight in the mornings. But seeing how they treated my sister I doubt there was much of an effort.
His sister came in with us to clean out her belongings. As I got there, her friends were there with sadness, confusion, and tears.
Generally how it works is when something occurs no explanation is offered. They come and close your doors and tell you not to leave your room.
Condolences were made. I gave the explanation. At one point one of the Dr.s came in. He even told us that the insurance company had said on Monday that she was done. He argued about her health. He won?
I was fully awake. Got dressed and we left the house shortly afterwards. Silence. To be expected. I made some light humor about how great the traffic was at that hour.
We got there, didn't have to sign in. They'd cleaned her and did her hair. Was a shock to say the least. Sunk in rather quickly.
Apparently about 11:30 she had called the nurse for something. They came in and she was sitting up. The nurse left to get an aide and when they returned she was slumped over. Of course they did what they could. Had E.M.T's come. She was gone. The hallways were deserted of inmates at that time.
They would store her downstairs but we needed to make arrangements. They didn't really have a morgue. Brother in law took her wallet, phone, and IPad. We went home. I made no jokes about the traffic.
There was little to do at that hour. Said we could make calls at 5 to immediate family. There was nothing anyone could do. I left 2 messages with Dr.s that I'd made an appointment with that morning and afternoon.
To their credit his brother and sister drove 2 hours and were there by 7 or 8. That is about all the credit I will give them.
We went to get the rest of her things. His brother didn't like where I told him to park so he spent the rest of his time looking for parking. It is tight in the mornings. But seeing how they treated my sister I doubt there was much of an effort.
His sister came in with us to clean out her belongings. As I got there, her friends were there with sadness, confusion, and tears.
Generally how it works is when something occurs no explanation is offered. They come and close your doors and tell you not to leave your room.
Condolences were made. I gave the explanation. At one point one of the Dr.s came in. He even told us that the insurance company had said on Monday that she was done. He argued about her health. He won?
Sunday, August 2, 2015
Tuesday
Came home from work. Made my usual call. She didn't need any extras, but she needed a favor. Could I do some laundry for her? I said of course.
Got there as she picked at dinner. She showed me where the clothes were and the detergent. I asked if she wanted to smoke first and she declined. Again not unusual when she was not feeling well.
I put here laundry in and returned. Told her how much time we had. She told me I'd have to stay there when it dried. That's how stuff disappeared. Hell stuff always disappeared there.
Not much talking she was tired and lay down. I reminded her to put on her cpap machine if was going to sleep. I went to dry the clothes and wait.
A dinky little laundry room. A door on either side. There was an inmate I'd seen around in the hallway. Waiting for his sandwiches. You could opt for them instead of the meal if it wasn't to your liking. He always went for the sandwiches.
I would find out at some point after my sisters death that the place had stopped that as well. It was important. Many a night my sister got that instead of the inedible crud fed there.
We talked off and on. I tried not to engage to much. One time I was very uncomfortable with one guy I spoke to near the nurses desk.
Big guy, both in height and weight. He would wander around and pick off the food trays. Usually from the ones that were removed from the rooms. It was gross.
Clothes dried I returned. She was up but out of it. Got her the ice we always got. Asked if she wanted to go out for a ride. I always did. She declined and said she was tired.
I got the ice. Put her clothes away and told her to put her mask on. She bid me a good night and that was that. I don't remember if there was a good night call that night.
About 2 in the morn or somewhere near then the phone rang in my house.
Saturday, August 1, 2015
Sunday and Monday.
All I can clearly remember is that I had come home early from the lounge. Bro in law slightly incensed.
"She wants Chinese food. I don't have the money for it. Do you?"
I smiled thinking coldly that he'd bankrupted me. But I'd a plan in mind. Told him not to worry about it.
I had bought a meatloaf mix that morning. It was a good meal and meant leftovers. I called my sister and asked if I what she wanted when I came up.
"Chinese food?" she asked warily
"Oh. I thought I'd bring up some meatloaf with mashed potatoes." I said cavalierly. There was silence. She loved both my meatloaf and always loved mashed potatoes.
"I can hear the smile. Guess I'll get cooking. It's why I came home early and called."
She thanked me profusely. Said she felt like she had a small bug again. Probably better off not having Chinese food.I made the dinner and packed it and went up for a visit. She loved the stuff and asked if I'd leave the container of potatoes. She'd get someone to heat them for her later. A lie. I knew my sister. She'd eat them cold. She loved mashed potatoes.
Crisis avoided. I came home and ate my dinner. Went to bed.
Monday.
No call from her. The usual when she wasn't feeling well. I cooked dinner. Brother in law came back a little early. Said she wasn't feeling to well and told him to leave.
Called for the usual good night call. I can't remember if she answered or not.
"She wants Chinese food. I don't have the money for it. Do you?"
I smiled thinking coldly that he'd bankrupted me. But I'd a plan in mind. Told him not to worry about it.
I had bought a meatloaf mix that morning. It was a good meal and meant leftovers. I called my sister and asked if I what she wanted when I came up.
"Chinese food?" she asked warily
"Oh. I thought I'd bring up some meatloaf with mashed potatoes." I said cavalierly. There was silence. She loved both my meatloaf and always loved mashed potatoes.
"I can hear the smile. Guess I'll get cooking. It's why I came home early and called."
She thanked me profusely. Said she felt like she had a small bug again. Probably better off not having Chinese food.I made the dinner and packed it and went up for a visit. She loved the stuff and asked if I'd leave the container of potatoes. She'd get someone to heat them for her later. A lie. I knew my sister. She'd eat them cold. She loved mashed potatoes.
Crisis avoided. I came home and ate my dinner. Went to bed.
Monday.
No call from her. The usual when she wasn't feeling well. I cooked dinner. Brother in law came back a little early. Said she wasn't feeling to well and told him to leave.
Called for the usual good night call. I can't remember if she answered or not.
Monday, June 29, 2015
Furthermore
It was somewhere in October I think. When that tightrope walker did his stunt in Las Vegas that year. Can I have a more vague reference? Probably. Had my sister out and about in the facility. We'd passed by her friend who seemed to be having a stern conversation with her boyfriend. On the way back we stopped by John's room. He had his usual hanger on's present. He invited us for some Chinese food.
Seemed he always had money for take out and to watch the tightrope walk. That was my sister, a long time Chinese food addict, had her first taste of Moo Goo Gai Pan. I think it was that of the Moo Shoo something. She loved it.
Her friend rolled by. I took my sister out of the room. Seems she'd just broken up with her boyfriend. My sister offered to talk to her. Or they could watch T.V. in her room. She opted to just stay alone for awhile.
My sister told me to go. It was after 8 as I recalled. I did the ice thing and bid her a good night.
Oh the timing is so dizzying right now. Apparently that occurred Saturday November 2nd. We are very near the end kiddies.
Seemed he always had money for take out and to watch the tightrope walk. That was my sister, a long time Chinese food addict, had her first taste of Moo Goo Gai Pan. I think it was that of the Moo Shoo something. She loved it.
Her friend rolled by. I took my sister out of the room. Seems she'd just broken up with her boyfriend. My sister offered to talk to her. Or they could watch T.V. in her room. She opted to just stay alone for awhile.
My sister told me to go. It was after 8 as I recalled. I did the ice thing and bid her a good night.
Oh the timing is so dizzying right now. Apparently that occurred Saturday November 2nd. We are very near the end kiddies.
Saturday, June 6, 2015
September passed
September passed blissfully enough I suppose. Got the book and enjoyed the Hell out of it. The routine was set. I was financially ruined. The electric company alone had wanted about 2 grand now. I was in trouble.
I'd lost my Amex in August. The cable bill and then car inspection. I'd been making paltry payments. They called me. It was actually very pleasant.
They would work with me. Put me on a monthly payment plan. I gave them the digits so they could just take it out of my account. I get it back in August. I was suspended. More than likely when it was paid back I could get reinstated. Thus I learned to live without a credit card.
Sister as I said would have little bouts of not feeling well. Her spirits were up and down. Did the best we could by her.
Home life was terribly stressful. I was down to nothing in savings. Being harassed by gas and electric. I went no where and did nothing. It was actually only by the kindness of my friend at the lounge that let me smoke there. He would often give me some of his own cigars and that was mana. The lounge was the only refuge I had left.
In October 2 more departments ended and many moved down to the new headquarters. So just sadness at work. Nothing was getting accomplished on the home front.
At the facility they had an Oktoberfest of sorts. In the further of the 2 big rooms. Nearest the smoking area. It was cheesy as Hell. But I think some liked it. They handed out half cups of fake beer. and everyone got a piece of pretzel. My sister enjoyed it somewhat. I took her back to her room and said good night.
I'd lost my Amex in August. The cable bill and then car inspection. I'd been making paltry payments. They called me. It was actually very pleasant.
They would work with me. Put me on a monthly payment plan. I gave them the digits so they could just take it out of my account. I get it back in August. I was suspended. More than likely when it was paid back I could get reinstated. Thus I learned to live without a credit card.
Sister as I said would have little bouts of not feeling well. Her spirits were up and down. Did the best we could by her.
Home life was terribly stressful. I was down to nothing in savings. Being harassed by gas and electric. I went no where and did nothing. It was actually only by the kindness of my friend at the lounge that let me smoke there. He would often give me some of his own cigars and that was mana. The lounge was the only refuge I had left.
In October 2 more departments ended and many moved down to the new headquarters. So just sadness at work. Nothing was getting accomplished on the home front.
At the facility they had an Oktoberfest of sorts. In the further of the 2 big rooms. Nearest the smoking area. It was cheesy as Hell. But I think some liked it. They handed out half cups of fake beer. and everyone got a piece of pretzel. My sister enjoyed it somewhat. I took her back to her room and said good night.
Tuesday, May 26, 2015
October and the Library forgets me
One of my other joys at the time was watching Burns and Allen from 5 A.M. until 6. I would make sure everything was accomplished by 5. I was still leaving around 6:30, they hadn't taken away the gym yet. It was fun. They were playing the show in order. I loved it. I remembered there was a book written by George called Gracie: A Love Story. I wanted it. I had a gift card from Barnes and Noble. So on a night when I had time to myself I went to it.
Long story short it was out of print and they couldn't get it for me. I was bummed. Was the 1 thing I really wanted.
The next night I saw my sister. She was in her usual bleh mood. Made damned sure we got to her smoking time. I got her ice and left. The library was on my way home. They'd refurbished it a while back. I decided to go in.
We'd had a disagreement.
"Wait you had a disagreement with a library. How does that happen?"
"Shush up and I'll tell you.
Long ago when I had another job I ate up books on tape. I lost one. I offered to replace it they told me to wait. Time passed I went back and said I'd just pay the fine. It was at the time $60, not unusual. I said fine. The next day when I went to pay the fine it had jumped to $300 some odd dollars. No way in Hell I said and didn't go back for over a decade.
So I went in. I approached the counter warily. As one does a wild animal. I explained I needed a card. That I had a disagreement and wanted to see if it cleared up. Well.....
I was no longer in the system at all! I got a brand new spanking card. I could now read books for F-R-E-E!!!!
They didn't have the book. But offered to get one from another branch. I asked how much that would cost. F-R-E-E!
On the way out I snagged a book entitled "Tanks and Trenches" A very good book, with pictures, about world war 1. I recommend it.
Long story short it was out of print and they couldn't get it for me. I was bummed. Was the 1 thing I really wanted.
The next night I saw my sister. She was in her usual bleh mood. Made damned sure we got to her smoking time. I got her ice and left. The library was on my way home. They'd refurbished it a while back. I decided to go in.
We'd had a disagreement.
"Wait you had a disagreement with a library. How does that happen?"
"Shush up and I'll tell you.
Long ago when I had another job I ate up books on tape. I lost one. I offered to replace it they told me to wait. Time passed I went back and said I'd just pay the fine. It was at the time $60, not unusual. I said fine. The next day when I went to pay the fine it had jumped to $300 some odd dollars. No way in Hell I said and didn't go back for over a decade.
So I went in. I approached the counter warily. As one does a wild animal. I explained I needed a card. That I had a disagreement and wanted to see if it cleared up. Well.....
I was no longer in the system at all! I got a brand new spanking card. I could now read books for F-R-E-E!!!!
They didn't have the book. But offered to get one from another branch. I asked how much that would cost. F-R-E-E!
On the way out I snagged a book entitled "Tanks and Trenches" A very good book, with pictures, about world war 1. I recommend it.
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