I am plum tuckered out! Dog tired! I've got one wheel down and an axle dragging!Dave's step-father has been in the last stages of cancer for awhile now. Within the last month, he had progressed to the stage that he needed someone with him 24/7. His sister and daughter covered the majority of the time, but I got called to fill in for a weekend. Nurse is high on the list of things I will never be. Thank heaven for hospice nurses and aides that handle that area. Preparing meals, doling out medications on schedule, and washing bedding are things I can do well, so I was happy to take my turn.
During my visit, he experienced a time of increased pain that the medication wasn't handling so, to comfort him while we waited on the nurse, we read scripture, prayed and discussed his faith and his assurance of where he was going. This is not a side of my father-in-law that I've seen a lot and I feel blessed that we had that time.
That bout with pain was the beginning of a downturn and a few days later, hospice suggested that time was short. Our daughter who lives in New Mexico wanted to come for a visit and we had her on a plane within a few hours. I spent the next week driving --- to the airport (90 minutes), to my father-in-law's home (4 hours), home, airport, home, father-in-law's, home, airport . . . He passed away on Wednesday the 2nd and the funeral was a couple days ago.
Yesterday I returned Amanda to the airport. On the way, she received a text that her flight was delayed 2.5 hours! It used to be a joke that Amanda's planes were always delayed, but it's not that funny any more. Albuquerque and Kansas City are both small airports and many of the flights in and out are "commuter" flights - small planes run by subsidiaries of United, US Airways and American Air. Evidently they are all incapable of running on schedule, staffing reliable crews, and maintaining a fleet of planes. Yesterday was the last straw. I called United and asked for my money back - which they agreed to. In fact, they even agreed to refund the "change fee" they had charged me because THEIR ineptitude meant Amanda would miss her connecting flight in Denver and had to be rescheduled. And they saw nothing ironic or wrong with that! From now on, this family flies Southwest exclusively.
Today I woke up with a mongo head cold and sore throat. I am supposed to get back into my car for a trip to Omaha (90 miles) and a doctor appointment for a completely unrelated issue. I debated rescheduling to avoid the drive and spreading my germs, but I finally decided to just get it done. Armed with Day-Quill, Kleenex and hand sanitizer, I'm headed out shortly.
I'm three days late getting started on the Re-Readathon hosted by Bex @ An Armchair by the Sea. But when I get home, I plan to collapse on the couch with a comfort book and a cup of tea. I'm starting with "Out to Canaan" by Jan Karon - the first of my favorites I'll be re-reading.
I can actually feel your tired . . . I guess that is a good writer! You have had a very roller coaster of a month both on the road and emotionally. Our thoughts are still with your family during this time of loss. Thank heavens Sister Weekend is just around the corner!
ReplyDeleteI am tucked out after reading all that you do! Hope you feel better and thank you for sharing. Oh one more thing... I love Jan Karon!!!
ReplyDeleteTake care. Sorry to hear its been so sad and hectic of late for you. The tiredness will go away with time. Reading is a good path to recovery. Whipping out some more of those drawstring purses from your previous post might do the trick, too! ;•)
ReplyDeleteSo sorry to hear about your father-in-law but I know that your faith has helped you through it.
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