Life keeps going!

So here I am, still in Grandma's house with Mom, waiting tables, job hunting, etc.  We had so many plants from Grandma's memorial service, that I had to name them all one day to keep them straight, a habit I picked up from Steph.  (Naming them, not keeping them straight.  Thank you!  I'll be here all night!)

Rundown - There are three peace lilies: Lady Marmelade, Mabel, and Petunia.  There are two mixes, with multiple plants in one pot: Daphne, and John Jacob Jingleheimerschmidt.  There is one big fern (at least, I think it's a fern), Harry.  These are all in the living room, though sometimes Petunia sleeps with me in my room.  Then in the kitchen, we have an African Violet named Fiona, an aloe plant named Vera, a rosemary plant named Herb, and a little ivy plant, Maresydotes.  Know the song?

So as we're plugging along, keeping things running smoothly, Grandpa A goes and has a stroke.  It was Saturday morning.  Grandma called Uncle Pat, then 911.  Interestingly, an EMT or firefighter or something lives just across the street from them.  He had his radio on, and was there in seconds.  The full crew was there in 3 minutes.  They worked quickly, and he's already recovering really well.  He's a strong dude.  When he's flat on the bed and a nurse asks him to sit up, he shoots up like a rocket.  I can't even do that!

At first he was having a few hallucinations, and he did NOT want to be in the hospital.  He claimed he was building a house, riding a tractor, cleaning his clothes, working on taxes, writing music, etc.  He was always teaching, though.  A nurse wanted him to write a few things to observe his motor skills, and he started sketching houses and explaining the structures to her.  

He's having a hard time keeping his eyes open, and he can't feel some parts on his left side, but he's going strong.  The eyes thing might be due to an inappropriate medication dosage, so hopefully that'll take care of itself soon.  Anyway, I'm so glad I'm here in town so I can visit with him and help out.  He knows who we all are, and is being a good sport.  Grandma said he smiled at her two days ago, which made her think he was much more himself.  Yesterday they took his temperature, and he of course had to keep his mouth closed for the thermometer.  I said, "Aha!  now we know how to keep him quiet!" which made him grin, teeth and all.  Yay!

And as the wheel of life continues to turn, I'm driving east next week for a conference, then my trial.  Fingers crossed......

The agnostic thanks god?

Today was a lull.  Everybody else in the house spent much of the day at church or with church friends.  I stayed in.  Could've worked on my online course, cleaned a little, gone for a walk, looked into job openings, given myself a pedicure, whatevs.  What DID I do?  I sat around, read, ate junk food, and watched TV.  From time to time, a day like this recharges me.  But having been out of work and spending half of my time lounging, this wasn't exactly a much-needed break.  So by the end of the day, I had a headache from my dehydration, TV-watching, and general lack of activity.

I was also starting to feel sorry for myself.  No friends in town, hanging out with my mom, sitting around idle, etc.  I can't call Kurt or Traci to go to a movie.  Got a little lonely.  

Then Geno (my brother closest to me in age) called for a quick chat.  That was nice.  Mom and Joe got home from church, and I started to feel a little trapped.  Judged, even, which I think I was pretty much projecting.  But then Suzanne called just to say hi, see how I was doing after the last couple of weeks, etc.  Thoughtful.  Feeling a little better.  Later tonight, Kurt called to check in.  It was so nice talking to him - normalcy.  Some fresh air from the real world in my head.  Thank goodness.  Or thank God?  I dunno.

Sidenote: with the brainless feeling I get from watching most of today's television, I am greatly appreciative of the escapism provided by books.  It's nice to have the time for them.