Nature Songs ~~~~
AUGUST, 2002 ~
It keeps swinging from one extreme to the other."
~~ Eugene Field
August 3, 2002 ~
August 10, 2002 ~
August 13, 2002 ~ Oh, How Yucky! ~~Friday was one of those so-so days where you don’t really care whether you do or say anything or not. It was like, “Oh well, so much for that!” I thought I would go through the drive-through at Subway and get a bit of supper on my way to see Mother a few minutes. Turning into the parking lot, the first thing to greet my eyes was the note taped over the speaker where I was to place my order. Oh well, that meant I had to drive around the building and place my order at the window. However, when I made that second turn past the back of the building someone else was ahead of me. Two people were sitting in the car, so that shouldn’t take too long; or so I thought.
The order was just being completed as I turned the corner and the window was closed as the employee turned toward the fixings bar. I waited ... and waited ... and waited ... The window opened and a drink was handed out, so the rest of the order should follow. I waited ... and waited ... and ..... I began to tired of this idea of mine to get a chicken salad for supper.
Oh, wait! Another movement! The window opens and the man talks to the two women in the car for several minutes. He turns away, but leaves the window open. Good! The wait should be over. But, wait? What in the world is taking place up there in front of me? A sandwich-sized brown bag is handed out to the car. The window closes. The car doesn’t budge.
It has been a good fifteen or more minutes. I know from past experiences of my daughters back when they worked at Burger King during their college days, that when working drive-through the employees should keep the cars moving. Seems this car could have been asked to pull up and the order could be brought out to them when it is ready. Several cars pull in and park. The doors of the cars open and people head toward the front door. I know that all is lost for me. Service is already slow. When these new orders are placed, service can only get worse at the window. I decide to pull around the red car perched there at the pickup window. I’ve decided I am not really hungry now anyway. I’ll wait till I get home and have me a good ole homegrown tomato sliced into a sandwich and that will be my meal. I’m off to see Mother much later than I planned.
Around midnight, I was not feeling hale and hardy. I was sick; too sick to suit me. For the next nine hours I was spinning from throwing up, to freezing, to being too hot. At one point I took my temp and it was around 102 degrees. I definitely had a virus, but it was not the same as the virus Giggles had while I kept her. She never did throw up or have problems with eating. Her problem was pain in her arms and legs along with the high fever. All day Saturday was a blur as I stayed in bed all day. The only bother for me was the constant phone calls all throughout the day made by Allan, my motherly-hen son, checking to make sure I was drinking clear fluids, how was I feeling, what meds had I taken to help my stomach, or simply did I need anything ... I know he was only looking after me and I love him for it.
Sunday arrives as well as Tbird and two of her children. She and hubby and NascarKid are going to a movie. DynoKid doesn’t want to see it and Giggles would have a problem sitting through a long movie. I feel some better and do manage to get out of bed. The two children are really no bother since DynoKid is great to help with Giggles. I only know that I shall not cook and I shall not leave the house. All I want to eat are a few crackers. There is enough here for the Grandkids to partake of.
Yes, I feel bad. No I don’t want to leave the house. Nevertheless, Mother has called way too many times today to let me know that she has two bananas and they will go bad if I don’t get them. I also had some intensely ripened tomatoes that are dripping with sweet nectar of goodness to take her and one of the nurses. Near dark I pull out of the drive - coming much too close to the huge oak tree - to take the tomatoes and bring back the two bananas.
Monday turns out to be the yucky day. I eat, but what I eat has a slight twist to the flavor. Mother’s remote has flipped its last channel search and the manager of electronics informs me that I’ll have to special order a new one since the TV is a combination with the VCR. No need to spend time running around. I can do that at home on the computer. I do get candy for the workers at the center and some workbooks, crayons, markers and playdough for Giggles to use. Next, I stop and get a cheese burger for my lunch. The dill pickle is in it. As I chew the bites, the flavor is okay, but as I swallow, it hits me! I shiver all over from the tart taste of the pickle sliding down the esophagus. Even now I shiver thinking of my reaction. The next and next bites are the same. I wish the pickles had been taken off before eating!
Mom and Dad were both busy after school, so the three Grandkids are back with me for about three hours. I bought some peanut butter cookies and it took NascarKid to search them out in less than two minutes flat, and they were not opened yet. I took one to nibble. Not a good idea! That cookie tasted exactly like fish! Fishy fish taste was all I savored until I once again swallowed and as it slide down the throat, the taste of the peanut butter came through. Ice tea was no better. A swig of tea and I was ready to toss the glass of tea out. I didn’t. I waited and tried another swig. It was sweeter and as the next few minutes passed, the true aroma of the tea began to reach my senses. Something, somehow has my taste buds on the blink and turned around. Another day of yucky food will not be to my liking - especially when peanut butter tastes like fish!!
August 14, 2002 ~
08/14/02
I worked on my new poem to be published and put it in the mail. Now to see how it turns out with the Poetry Society. Tbird read a copy of the poem and said that it made her very sad. Since I wrote it about Mother, I took a copy with me Sunday evening and gave it to the nurse along with the tomatoes. I only asked that she not share it with Mother at this time. I can hear Mother now, “Well, why don’t you take me home? You know what would make me happy. Dying here will not make me happy at all.” We have gone through that scenario too many times already.
She welcomes me inside with, “I want to go home”
Each time I arrive to visit in her two-person room
It’s really an extremely pleasant place to be living
Best nursing home of it’s kind throughout the land
A bright cheery room lit by sun and sun catchers
Red begonias flowering by green fern on the sill
Bird feeder full of sunflower seeds in the courtyard
Has birds, also plump squirrels eat to her horror
Telephone, TV with VCR, radio and cassette
Can never take the place of friends and family
The Gaither Reunion videos become monotonous
Wheelchair, vision poor, shaking - all takes a toll
Much is suggested by the staff to partake of, but
Biweekly bingo is the sole activity to please her
First love is baseball. Yankees & Braves win - Hooray!
Days are long and never ending, solitary pain calls
Choice of the day is whether or not to arise each morn
Two baths a week scheduled but rarely the whirlpool
Nurses with meds to administer; CNA’s always on call
But never accepting her plight, Mom wants to go home.
Norma S. Swanson
Copyright 2002
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Lenoir,NC 28645
United States
©2002 by Stormy Jeanne
