Time heals all wounds… Apparently. I have yet to see that.

Well Precious Readers, I recognize it has been almost a month since my last blog post. You may notice this post looks odd compared to my typical formatting. This is because today’s post is brought to you via the hospital.

Here’s the sitch:

Earlier this month I was dealing with a sprained wrist, and now carpal tunnel issues from a vast increase of work in my Daily Life. I’ve increased acupuncture appointments and have had my right wrist wrapped and been icing at night up until about last week. Even now, this typing pains me, but didn’t want to leave my blogosphere peeps hanging.

Separately, as of yesterday, my mother in law, known to you as Honey, has been in the hospital due to chest pains. Although the docs aren’t quite sure what’s going on, she’s been alert, laughing and able to be up, sharing in conversations with us. She was transferred to a hospital about 15 minutes away from Pilot and I, so we’ve been able to visit her the most.

Mostly, Pilot and I are trying to make sure my father in law, Silver Fox, eats and stays hydrated. He and Honey spend so much time taking care of other people, you can imagine it’s extremely difficult to have anyone try to take care of them for a change.

However, things have been on a good note. Throughout this time, I find myself lucky to have a mother who cares so deeply about other people, always wanting good health and fun for others. She calls Honey a couple of times a day and has been very supportive during this time. I know it is tough for my mom to hear about someone in the hospital due to chest pains after losing my own father to a heart attack.

Pilot’s parents, Honey and Silver Fox, are easily one of the funniest couples I have had the honor to meet. They’ve been joking and laughing. Wishing it hadn’t happened this way, I hope that they both take this as an opportunity to think about their lives and try to live healthier. Now, I’m no spring chick. I have a spare tire, and wish I was talking about the car. However, I have normal blood pressure, cholesterol levels and can easily climb 3 staircases without getting winded. Now, that’s never here nor there, but either way, it’s tough to watch a loved one carried off to the hospital, especially for something that might have been preventable. I’ve been there more times than I would have liked due to car accidents, appendicitis, heart attacks, shattered ankles, colon cancer, etc. Is it weird that I’ve had to call 911 for almost all the people I love at one time or another?

Today, as Pilot and I were wandering the halls, hand-in-hand we moved in comfortable silence. Then, I had to jerk him around the corner, practically pulling his arm out of his socket so we wouldn’t miss the corner for the elevator. When he nearly avoided walking into the wall, he asked me how I knew where everything was. Pilot and I have only been in is hospital twice. Yesterday and today. After pondering this question for a few minutes, I answered, “I guess I just know my way around hospitals.”

My mother and I have both, separately, worked for a couple of hospitals over the years, and I’ve either spent my own time at doctor’s offices for myself, or visiting family/friends so many times in my life that hospitals have become old hat for me. Oddly enough, I’m sometimes more comfortable in hospitals than my own home. There’s a sense of routine and stability. Cafeterias are always either on the same floor as sky bridges, or they’re on the ground level. Labs and X-Rays are always near one of the main entrances. The gift shops are always going to be filled with more tchotchkes that you didn’t realize you couldn’t live without than an airport terminal.

Totally weird. I know.

One of my Sis-In-Laws, Hoops, has reached a new level of understanding with me. She was at the house as the ambulance was starting to drive off. Never wishing that feeling on anyone, I felt her pain as she shared her experience of approaching her parent’s home and having Silver Fox explain that Honey was on the way to the hospital. I don’t wish that feeling on anyone. It’s an impotent, hollow, empty and helpless feeling which can make one erratic, scared, and sometimes even hostile. I don’t even think those are the best words to describe it.

I don’t think there are words to describe it.

Pilot has told me-

Unfortunately on more than one occasion…

-that if an emergency ever happened he wants me around. Not in an, “I love you, you’re my wife,” sense or even a, “You keep me company,” ideal.

Nope, Precious Readers, it’s 100% pure, “I’m helpless in an emergency and you’ll make sure I don’t die” scenario. I don’t know what it is, but when emergencies happen, I turn into Supernurse, the Emergency Robot. I am able to recall from memory finite details about a person’s health, medications, symptoms, past history, allergies to medication and foods, and environmental/physical care treatment preferences. No matter how many years it’s been.

I spring into action from CPR/First Aid training and no longer act as the babbling, stuttering idiot I tend to be during my Daily/Real Life. Instead, I am articulate, concise and a parrot of important situational/emotional/physical details.

Why didn’t I become a nurse? Actually I have no idea. Probably because I only took one biology class in high school and got a C+ in chemistry. Also, I don’t want my everyday job to deal with life/death situations. Trust me, I see enough medical action across the board due to family and friends alone. I don’t need it everyday. I’d probably crack.

In one of my earliest posts, I dedicated it to my friends who were in various medical fields. They’re amazing people who I have the utmost respect for. They have to play assistant, concierge, friend, psychologist, temporary family member for some, and still be your healthcare professional all in one.

Or, these people are also known as parents, if you’d like to go down that route.

No real point to this story either, just glad to be writing to the masses once again. Maybe just a couple of messages for you:

3. Never be afraid to lighten the mood if necessary. That can be one of the best stress relievers that is in your control.

2. Be kind to your healthcare professionals. Don’t be afraid to speak up and take an active role in your health, but they are in that profession for a reason: they care about human life, which means they care about you. Just like some family, they may just not know how to show it.

Most importantly:

1. You need to remember to take time out for your own health. You can’t take care of others if you don’t take care of yourself.

This includes a certain writer whose wrists are feeling on fire right about now. Pilot, if you’re reading this, bring on the ice pack!

Prayers for Homey and Pilot’s family right now are appreciated. Peace, Precious Readers!

Bacher=Out!