Sonnystone Acres

as thebug and husband returned from their sojourn they met a path strewn with welcome-home excrement, were serenaded by my mewling and are settled right back into my routine: food, naps, more food and naps, etc. the tomatoes, squash and bell peppers have tried mightily to occupy the place, the chiggers have refused to succumb to husband’s poison, but i, brave and alone, have kept them at bay. boychild and his fiancee’s apartment is just as nice as i hoped; their kitten, ambrosia, though young, seems precocious; redhaired girl and her husband are all set to see TheCure tonight (on their planet), and thebug is back in the kitchen taking care of the rebellious vegetables, —what a wonderful world! now back to nature: ellis park racing, $2 bets to show, and some groovy music for soundtrack. amen…..

sometimes i forget that rightmoon is not just my daughter, she is eric’s wife. let me give here a special tribute to a wonderful son-in-law: this young man has been through all of the troubles, trials, sickness, and scenes. he was no more prepared for his life to be turned upside-down by that nasty crohn’s than she was–and would probably, like me, rather suffer the pain himself than helplessly watch her. he is working hard physically to take care of her, he is working hard emotionally to take care of her, and as i go back to my rock, i have great peace to leave her here with her rock. thank-you eric for everything, especially your calm, strong support of rightmoon—and forgiving a well-meaning, if dramatic, mama-figure.

so last night’s performance of “little shop of horrors” was great….audrey 2 (if you remember the show) was so large at the end that that her (scarey) head came out to about 4 rows in front of me. the show is like reading a good short story…took me away from reality for a while. but today i’ve packed, checked out, and left my bags down at the bentley. i’ve been by to pick up some more groceries for rightmoon and have arrived here at her humble abode for a final sitz and wound care. my flight leaves at around 5:30 and i’ll get back to indy around 7 pm cst. husband and i are headed up to lafayette for the night (about an hour away) to meet up with boychild and his fiancee’ and see their new apartment. we’ll spend the night there and have a leisurely drive back to sonnystone on saturday–maybe stop at a few antique stores. i sure appreciate all of the support from all of you. i want to say that those of us who are “sonnystoners” are sending out our prayers for all of our family members who are facing difficult times. it’s not about where we start, but about how we finish. change is tough, but staying the same is deadly. god loves us even when everybody else thinks we’re unlovable. read psalm 27, if you need it. my mission here is accomplished, but i will return for her next — and last– operation in a couple of months. amen.

went to see the musical “hairspray” last night–how fun! the main character in the show is 4′10″, chubby, but a great dancer with a big belting voice. the show was great and bright. i love a musical with a message. rightmoon continues to do well. i spoke with dr. kee about rightmoon’s stitches–one out of 5-6 has come out and is open about an inch–she says that’s okay, just keep sitzing. i have to say as a nurse, the area seems to be healing within normal limits, especially considering the tissue is crohnized. rightmoon will see dr. kee next week. tonight i’m headed back down to 52nd st. to see “little shop of horrors”. it’s a beautiful sunshine-y day and i’m glad to be here with my daughter, enjoying myself in the city.

a cloudy day here has dampened my mood and my walking sandals put a blister on my heel. with rightmoon doing so well i’m restless, so what better to lighten the outlook than a broadway show? add a little shopping at bloomingdales for new walking shoes and i should be back in form. there are lots of good shows i haven’t seen so i’m sure to be pleased. word from sonnystone is that Son E. surfaced for what husband called “a shitting jag” in the cowboy room. husband is taking care of details. my niece, a real red-haired girl called ali, will be having a little boy Thursday morning–not actually at sonnystone, although Son E. is an experienced midwife and offered her use of the dining room. Ali kindly demurred and will actually be in a hospital around 8 a.m. giving birth to Noah. thank god for little babies and good mommies–all of us in agreement? off to lunch.

so they kicked rightmoon out of the hospital last night–rightfully so since she’s able to manage her pain with the current addictive narcotic. as for me, i’ve checked into a movie set-type hotel room with a view of the 59th street bridge (go ahead and sing the song) as well as the fjord they call the east river. it’s been blue skies and tugboats for me and happy reunion with dizzy and bird at the york avenue walkup for rightmoon. so you can check back with rightmoon for her attitude on our latest adventure.

everything is progressing nicely. it’s a good thing she’s coming home tomorrow–i think i’m marked by the aimless people on madison ave. where i take my smoke breaks and am giving away as many ciggies as i smoke! eric is at the hospital. the cats are sleeping. the weather has turned nice with hints of blue under the clouds and a nice breeze. the window is open and the sounds of the traffic and voices remind me that i’m in gotham. so to make the best of it i’m off the the bentley.

the epidural is out and the percocet is on. the catheter is out and the walking is on. but the percocet makes her sleepy, so i’ve come back to the apt. for a while and will go back later for the essential sitz bath. god love her. she’s still smiling. word from sonnystone acres is that husband is screening windows, painting, scraping, glazing–a veritable frenzy of preparation for the siding to go on the first week of august. boy-child has not checked in lately…are you out there, jr? don’t be afraid to post–i hear this internet thing is safe. sonny has been mostly under the bed and the garden is growing. eric has been working 10-hour days and going to the hospital, then putting up with his eccentric mother-in-law. even though this is all a bit challenging, all of us are confident. thanks for caring. keep praying.

it has rained all day–cooler, but gloomier. rightmoon continues to repair: the pain specialist nurse and dr. kee have the plan to start oral medicines tomorrow morning while shutting off the epidural, but not removing it, so that by monday when she is released we will know what works and what doesn’t. dr. wong taught me how to irrigate her wound so that it will actually be done as often as it was ordered. the wound looks good. her right leg is kicking again. i am so moved by her courage and composure. i don’t know if i mentioned that she and eric will be moving to a new apartment at the end of august. she’s really excited about that and should be–it’s a lot bigger and brighter. all of these things are working together for her healing. all of us in agreement say: amen.

the epidural is still in, so themoon is “okay” with the pain. today she sat up in a chair..dr. wong irrigated her wound, and she smiled a lot. i got to meet her surgeon, dr. kee. i had talked with her several times on the phone and felt like i already knew her. she is adamant that themoon’s pain be controlled– so that makes three of us that are in agreement. everybody out there agree with us and surely we will kick this demon. lest you think HospitalTour04 is all work and no play: there was free admission at the el museo barrio, four blocks down from mt. sinai, from 4-8 with a percussion/latino band starting at 6—well, more like 6:30. $3 beer, lots of people watching, and still made it back to mt. sinai to help ken win big on jeopardy. i think nights are worse for moon and if she has another rough night will insist that i spend them with her. after a couple of beers i’m a great nurse. keep praying.