William Morris...

 

First class or coach...

How long
does it take
to get to heaven?

do you wait
for a bus with
a layover in Purgatory? 

Unashamedly stolen from The Hammock Papers...

Flannery O'Connor,
self portrait 1953
                                      












"Accepting oneself does not
preclude an attempt to
become better."                            

                                                                                                                                                                                                    

So you say...

You're weird.

                      You're not the first person to notice.

Fond memory of Florida...

 

dolphin sculpture
Paul Baliker, 
Ormond Library,
2011

Happy bear...

 

Dead and Dying...

saved a flower from the funeral. 
It's dry and crumbling now.
nothing lasts always.
Forever is a dream.

 

 

I need a punching bag...

I am
mad
and
sad.

 

It isn't right
to fight
that hard
and still
lose. 

Remaining...

after so long
there's no strength
left for the
fight needed
to go on and
stay a while
longer.
Quiet as an empty
chapel.
Turn out the light
when you leave.

if what?...

there's no way
to know
what might have been
what could have been
if

Birthday #75...

'tis true.
no boo-hoos, please. 
I have a lot of good words
left in me
just waiting to be spewed.

(It's better than staying 74 forever.) 

 

 

 

 

(birthday present
to myself) 

Please do...

read a poem.
write a poem.
speak a poem.

It begins...

Paperwork and red tape. and phone calls, many phone calls.

She didn't have a will.
House in her name only, car...same.

Time to find a lawyer.

 

Funeral was yesterday. She looked beautiful. 

Missing...

gone
from here.
but not
from memory.
may there be
peace
and beauty
where
the soul now
resides.
remember us.

Not good-bye...

 

She's gone...

 Carol died this morning.

 

Go see Joe and buy his new book...

 https://hoosierboy.blogspot.com/

Frustration is neverending...

Talked to my sister on the phone this morning before we
left to visit her at the hospital. I could barely understand
her...obviously short of breath, struggling, wheezing.

When we got to the hospital I questioned the nurse that
was in the room taking Carol's vitals. She hadn't noticed
any issues. She contacted the doctor on duty for the hospital.
He showed up quickly, did a short assessment and ordered
a chest x-ray and blood cultures. The x-rays showed infection.

She is in a hospital fergawdsake. Surrounded by medical
professionals 24/7 fershitsake. NO ONE noticed?? 

If I hadn't pointed it out when would it have been addressed?
They now have her on two antibiotics. Blood work didn't show
full-blown pneumonia but it did show another harder to detect
version. I really, really wanted to slap someone.

What happens to patients who have no advocates? No family
to question what's happening? What should be happening?

My advice...don't fully trust anyone. Don't hesitate to ask questions.
Pay attention to everything...everything. You might be the best
reason your loved one will get better and be able to come home.