Welcome 2014, please be gentle.

     Morning.  Coffee and me here.  It is 2014.  Hope everyone had a happy and safe New Year.  I suppose there was more to tell from the previous week.  Got the microwave.  We are, however, going to start at about 3 A.M. New Years Eve Morning.

     I got up.  Felt good.  Money had been put into my account, much thanks to my employer.  I paid all the house bills.  As well as the rest of my personal bills.  I'd showered earlier.  Was at my computer when the brother in law wobbled by with his cup of coffee.  I decided on a cup of juice.  Was getting a blood test so had to be out the door early.  Lunch was together already.

     First thing to note was that there was a puddle in front of the fridge.  I threw a towel down and grabbed my juice out.  Didn't feel as cold as it should have.  Poured it, drank and opened the fridge again.  Nothing felt cold enough.  Or was it just me?

     Now it was not uncommon.  Very often the brother in law would leave freezer door ajar.  Or drop and leave ice cubes, for my sisters tea, on the floor and walk away.  But it was the lack of noise.  The sound of silence.  Upon reopening I listened for the compressor, the sound of air,  N-O-S-O-U-N-D.  

     I waited for the brother in law.  His shower finished he sat in the living room and put the television on.  I called him over and asked him to check the fridge for me.  Befuddlement arose as he opened the door and asked what he was looking for.

     I asked him if he thought it was on.  After a few moments, he checked the freezer and confirmed the worst.  His first words, 
"Should I wake _ up and tell her?"  I said no.

     I was now realizing how alone I was.  He had the look of a scared child.  Looking for the nearest grown up to make it right.  Unfortunately for me....that was ME.

     After a little bit.  Well he couldn't take off work because he wouldn't get paid for the holiday.  Technically my company can do the same to me.  I quickly got a tub and we saved what we could right away.  Thank goodness the weather is in the 20's, the cold right now is our best friend.

     At some point my sister had called for him.  He probably scurried off like a rat.  I was putting stuff outside, saw he was gone, and went into their room.  Yup he managed to babble it all out to a sleepy sister.  I laughed and he went to get her some raisin bread.

     She bleated what are we going to do.  Actually teared up a bit.  How are we going to afford this?  I already knew there was no we here.  There were 2 adult children.  The brother in law came in with the bread.  Just in case he hadn't stated the importance, he said again he couldn't stay home. A real rock.  In the end I'm glad he didn't.

     My sister was wailing a bit, panicky like, brother in law standing there.  I told them both what we were going to do.  He'd go to work.  I'd go and get my blood test,
Cut off there came a loud teary, "What are we going to do!?"

     I looked straight at her and said, nothing is going to get done at 5:15 in the morning.  Blood test, breakfast, let manager know, then shopping.

     I think this is a good place to stop. 

t.b.c.