Thursday 10 - Wednesday 16
WEEK 51. Frantic. That is what this week has been. Aha, one of those. The kind of week
that when it's over you ask yourself, did all of this really happen?
This week started with a little of pressure knowing I had to write a post for Sandra's birthday.
I knew it better be good too. Three days. I had three days.
Writing is not the issue. It's searching around to find the perfect photo, or the perfect song.
TIME. That is the issue.
I needed to organize myself. I needed a plan. But really...Moi? A plan? Help is what I needed!
But actually I came up with a plan....My same old plan; After, Alonso, my grandson, goes nite-nite
I would write. I didn't know what ...but I would write something. TA DA!!!
So in order to save time I decided on less photos and more writing. But then my C.Y.L.A.M.S.
(Complicate Your Life A Little More Syndrome) kicks in, and I end up with three stories!
Not good. Maybe I should have stuck to more photos and less writing.
I killed one story and kept two. Sandra would like that anyway, because two is better than one.
Now all I had to do was work on them Thursday and Friday night. That was my I.Y. D. S.
(In Your Dreams Syndrome) kicking in.
Not so. At least not the way I planned it.
Thursday was a nightmare. I am going to describe this a quickly as possible:
*Hilda calls and informs me, my niece Veronica is very ill. Diabetes complications.
*At work I am back and forth with texts and phone calls while Veronica is being seen by
Doctors. Hilda wants to come to Georgia, but her car is not in good shape. Flying is impossible
she can't afford it.
*Being in the medical field ny niece does not want to be hospitalized and decides she will
follow Doctor's orders at home to a tee. (She's had diabetes since she was eight years old).
*I needed to call Spain and let my family know what was going on but I had to rely on facebook
because I had no home phone (I got Vonage) thanks to pulling some cables out when I moved
my desk...Oh, I also killed the router...Thank God, I got internet going, with the help of a very,
very patient customer care representative from Comcast. The rest will wait until Pepe
gets here. I am not messing with any of that!
*That evening as I am preparing Alonso's dinner, I get a call from Hilda. She was crying.
David, Veronica's 17 year old son, had just called her and he had been in a car accident.
The call fails and she doesn't know if Veronica is with him or not.She couldn't get through to David...
you can imagine her distress.
*Don't worry sis I will find out. You stay put. Everything will be O.K.
*I get through to David who was in shock but otherwise well. No his mom was
not with him.
*I try to reach Veronica. Nothing. Finally she answers and is on her way to pick up
David.
*I call Hilda back and inform her they are "safe".
*I am a bundle of nerves putting myself in Hilda's shoes, and offer Hilda to pay for a rental
car. She insists on changing the tires in the morning and make it here...God willing.
*That night I really tried to finish Sandra's birthday post. I didn't. I couldn't concentrate.
Before going to bed I find myself staring at this old photo that should have been put away
a week ago...but was still on my desk. This will be part of the book about my mother. See
the sadness? I just wanted to be back with her...in New York where I was supposed to be
and not in Chicago...
At five in the morning, Friday, I find myself at my desk holding this photo again, asking myself
when will I be able to write this story. But above all wondering...wondering...if Veronica
had been able to wake up at 3 A.M. to check her sugars. No news is good news, I reassured
myself, and since I was wide awake I would write...even so, finishing touches would have
to wait until that night. It would be one post only. S.E.N.S.E. kicked in.
*The rest of that Friday was horrible. Hilda left Titusville around 11 A.M..Worried that my sister
was exhausted and driving a car that might not make it, I was a mess, but kept my calm...
if that makes any sense.
*My sister Cary who reads my S.O.S in facebook, immediately gets in touch with Pepe, and
tells him to tell me to tell Hilda that she would help her out with the expenses of the trip and
the loss of days of work...That's my sister Cary!
*At work I was trying to keep up with Hilda's progress and cheer her up. At one point she tell me
the hood of her car is rattling because it doesn't close properly and the noise is driving her insane.
I told her to stop, buy duct tape and tape that sucker down firmly. She actually did it....
Larry the Cable Guy would have been proud!
*Hilda gets lost.
*Hilda makes it to downtown Atlanta's FRIDAY evening rush hour...
*Hilda arrives at Veronica's, who is feeling much better, at 9 P.M.
*I told her to go to bed, rest and we would see each other the next day.
Saturday morning. It's Sandra's 24th birthday. I am up early to finish her post while she and
Alonso sleep....then wake up...then have breakfast...then shower...
But alas, TO SANDRA: I KNOW YOU HAVE HEARD IT BEFORE...BUT. is finished and she loves
it. A POEM FROM THE PAST. would have to wait another day. I was free to jump in the
shower and go out to lunch. At 1:45 P.M. we would meet Chris and Beth at On the Border
by the Mall of Georgia.
After a very enjoyable lunch, where we talked as much as we ate, Sandra and I headed to
see Hilda and Veronica. Unfortuantely, Chris and Beth had to go back home. But I will see them
when Pepe comes next week. I am sure.
When I saw my sister outside Veronica's apartment I couldn't believe a year had passed
since my last trip to see her. We embraced for the longest time in silence. No words are necessary
to let a person know how much they are loved. I wished our visit that day could have been
longer but Veronica needed to rest, and I needed to work that evening when all I wanted
was to crawl into bed. The lack of sleep was doing it's job.
Sunday I had to work. Don't ask me what happened that day it's a blurr. It's a good thing...
because this seems too long and I am probably boring you.
Are you still there?
