Reflection

Sunday on our way back from Johnson's Shut-Ins we stopped to visit the in-laws.  The girls wanted to swim more, since they live on a lake.  Princess A wanted every last ounce of sunshine her skin could absorb--working in a doctor's office Monday thru Friday in the summer months leaves a 20-year old girl pale--her grandma's house was just the place.

We gathered at their kitchen table, conversation quickly turned to "what we were doing this time last year".  Last year I remember I was exhausted, all the time.  For three months I went from work to the hospital for the night shift of keeping my mother-in-law in company.  When she was transferred to the hospital across the street for rehab King Ralph and I shared the job of "keeping her company"--I went right after work, then he came when he got home from work so I could run the girls to activities.  Her husband left when I arrived so he could rest.  I think keeping her mind going and working helped in her healing process; keeping her lucid and lessened her moments of rambled thoughts...thoughts that were at times very Alice in Wonderlandesque.  Still no matter what we say to her today we cannot convince her that during her two brain surgeries there were no bugs removed from her head. As we all sat around talking about her latest doctor report (no surgery as of now to place a metal plate on the skull area left open and no doctor visit for a year) she looks at the girls and says: "there is something about your grandma you don't know".  King Ralph was prepared to hear some deep dark secret of his mother's past...when she says..."I collected the bugs when I was at the doctor and brought them home and threw them over the balcony."  Her husband rolled his eyes up and shook his head.  What do say to someone who still struggles with the symptoms of brain surgeries.  I'll tell you what I said.  I said "great Mom, then the bugs are in the lake and they are gone, forever, never to return.  You can stop worrying about the bugs."  I am telling you all that must have been one vivid dream she had when she out of it.  She swears the doctor removed bugs that had faces like Jim Carrey.  Why Jim Carrey we'll never know.  But no one, not us, not her husband, not her daughters, not her grandchildren, not even her doctor can convince her she had NO bugs in her head removed. I doubt too that that is the last we'll hear about those bugs. I also think we should hide all the Jim Carrey movies they may own, just in case.

Bugs or not, a year later it is quite the miracle she survived all she did and is back in a darn good place all around.

It sure feels good to start off the school year not completely exhausted physically and mentally!