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Temple, thanks for the snoring kitty moment. My snoring dogs do that for me
here, so comforting that sound. I shall miss them and hope that my baby son does a good job of caring for them while I'm gone. Three days should be okay. He's allergic to the dogs, he owned my old one first and gave her to me a long time ago, so he'll have to self medicate and maybe , maybe, he'll VACCUUM my ouse while I'm gone or wash my dishes? Sigh.........
When I asked him to fill the bird feeder daily, he rolled his eyes. 100 birds may miss me terribly for awhile here, if he doesn't do it. The fat pigeons who barge in can always mug a stranger, but the little bitty birds need the food in winter.
Our two lead footed siblings are driving, so we have a plan to beat them about the heads if they try it in our presence.........Mom will need leg massages while we move along, so.....it should be interesting. One sister has to use the bathroom every seven minutes, so add that time, my lead footed brother is going to go mad I tell you, mad!!!
Pet your sunning kitties for me and I'll go cover my snoring doggies with their blankies, which have fallen off them. Zhu Zhu and Dillinger are visiting, too. Cold winds outside all day, brrrrrrr................
posted by
benzinha
on February 2, 2005 at 5:15 PM
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thanks, maj.....no time for beaches, too much catch up talking to do and
hugging, I think. This aunt and uncle bought a beachouse in San Clemente when we were little. Twelve cousins and four grownups packed inside during a few weeks each summer. For us desert rat cousins it felt like Beach Blanket Bingo movies and all that, life guards and surfers and sand with water next to it, fabulous.
I miss that closeness with those cousins. Shall try to hug it back into being at our meeting this week.
posted by
benzinha
on February 2, 2005 at 5:04 PM
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Sweet Abuelita, I'm so sorry for you and your family.
I can't imagine what it's like to have family around me like that. I imagine it makes you batty at the same time you love it. I'm glad you have each other now. I will light a candle for you and your Auntie. I send you lots of hugs and kisses, and my kitties do too. Right now Petie is sleeping soundly...so soundly he is snoring...in the box that housed the globe Jimmy bought me (I've never had a globe). It's getting the afternoon sun, and I'm playing hooky from work, laughing at this site. Maybe snoring black Petie will make you smile for a minute. He lightens my spirits in the darkest of times. Take care of yourself.
posted by
Temple
on February 2, 2005 at 2:09 PM
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Take care,and best regards to the family.
West Covina!? You'll have to detour to the beach before you go back.
posted by
majroj
on February 2, 2005 at 10:48 AM
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Gracias, BB.....
posted by
benzinha
on February 1, 2005 at 6:39 PM
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Benzinha
I am sorry for your loss. I am glad you can have the get together - that will be great, if for sad reasons.
I laughed when I read your description of your daughter. Travel safely and enjoy the road trip.
posted by
beachbelle
on January 31, 2005 at 8:39 PM
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Update, maj and bb, she failed to make it over that next hurdle.
They removed the breathing tube and she passed away in her sleep last night. Mom has been crying all day, her closest companion, my third sister, spent the day with her and others have been visiting all day. I hav a painting deadline and will visit her tomorrow. Must paint and sell my artwork before this Thursday, now.
Five of us nieces and nephews, we are six counting my sister in Mexico, will drive with my mother, leaving Thursday, for West Covina, CA. My aunt will be buried next to her loving husband, grand old Uncle Jesse, on Saturday. I will get a chance to hug Auntie Carol's six children and to hug her brother, my Uncle Charlie, the last two siblings left of their three musketeers.
It will be good to see all of my cousins together again, haven't been that way in my company for over 30 years. Sad, but good. I am so glad that my mother and third sister won't be going alone. My brothers decided that they must go, too and so, we were all then invited along.
My daughter fears that we'll die on the freeway together in the two cars and I told her that she then must carry on the family tradition of kindness and helpfulness and must give up that side of her person who gets hard and spiteful at times.....she says that she'll put my ashes in a jar next to her bed and bitch about the world to me, as shes does on the phone, hiding that side from other people. Great, I thought, what an after life for me!!
What a pessimist she is! Life is better than that, I hope. Life is good.
posted by
benzinha
on January 31, 2005 at 8:28 PM
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Good. OK, next hurdle...
posted by
majroj
on January 31, 2005 at 12:26 PM
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Benzinha
I am pleased to hear that the news is better. Take care my friend
posted by
beachbelle
on January 31, 2005 at 1:02 AM
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update, my old auntie could no longer talk and her baby boy,
a doctor and the next child least afraid of her, being the baby, ordered surgery for the obstruction, etc. as he watched her vital signs crashing.
They operated and she came through it, a surprise, and has much improved vital signs and readings and will be off the breathing tube tomorrow. He is afraid of what his mom might say when and if she speaks again, but couldn't NOT do anything. My mommy is quilting again and has some hope. Life is good.
Thanks everyone for your stories and prayers and readings and comments. Abuelita
posted by
benzinha
on January 31, 2005 at 12:50 AM
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I'm with you both...and I'm a nurse.
As a "health care consumer", I've had similar experiences . In fact, when my grandfather in law was dying and I showed up, the staff started addressing me and asking me to make decisions about the patient's care, going past family members...and I wasn't even an EMT yet. Might be 'cause I was a male and was relatively calm.
My father went through some unexpected problems in his last two hospitalizations, one of which was due to his medication and despite my discussion with the nursing staff, who were getting orders for a medication to sedate him but which he had a history of getting excited with (paradoxic reaction).
On the other hand, and I am certain this wasn't the case with our hostess's family, there are some families and even patients who erode your authority for making health care decisions as an "informed professional", sometime out of distrust and sometimes just because they work that way; however, as the "informed professional", your responsibility does not end until relieved by competent authority, so you have to do your best for the patient. Sometimes in this dynamic balance (tug of war at times) the patient can get lost. Literally.
posted by
majroj
on January 30, 2005 at 8:02 AM
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This is a very sad story
I feel that we should have the right to question any methods used in health care for our loved ones. Most of us are not doctors and they shouldn't presume that we always know what is going on. It is a helpless feeling to watch a loved one suffer while many hands try to mend them while we watch and wait for answers. Don't ever feel bad about questioning them. It is your right.
posted by
Sherri_G
on January 29, 2005 at 9:50 PM
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I am the same for asking pesky questions
but sometimes that comes in handy. I spent a couple of days at a sudden deathbed vigil a couple of years ago and because I was an in-law I was both able to think of and ask the questions for the others who were in shock. It seems crazy to say but excellent care was given although he did not make it. ..yeah that sounds totally crazy.
This ailment sounds a little similar. Take care
posted by
beachbelle
on January 29, 2005 at 9:10 PM
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Reasonable answers carry little comfort.
Best then to offer sympathy and an open ear.
posted by
majroj
on January 29, 2005 at 9:04 PM
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Questions are always good. Better to pester those in authority than never find anything out.
posted by
Ca88andra
on January 28, 2005 at 11:37 PM
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I'm sorry.
posted by
telynor
on January 28, 2005 at 5:34 PM
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There's nothing wrong with asking questions! We've al heard horror stories about doctor's amputating the wrong leg, etc. Sorry to hear about your Aunt. I do hope she will let everyone gather at the end. 
posted by
Holy_Grail
on January 28, 2005 at 5:21 PM
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