prog | Nov. 3rd, 2004

Today was the most stressful day of my week here, since I had to deal with Ricky, and give Ricky and my mom rides together, and do all this on the day after the &c. I was imagining all sorts of unpleasant things that could happen, but as with everything else during my activities this week, the reality has gone far smoother.

Ricky was OK. He gave dad a card and a potted ivy plant, and then flirted with the female nurses by telling them jokes. Now, Ricky's jokes are like Lucky's monologues, and take a long time to be told as he struggles to connect the phrases in his head together, though it ultimately makes no sense (though it always looks interesting on paper, which is why I save all of Ricky's postcards to me). But here his audience were health professionals who have seen a lot, and knew at a glance what Ricky was. So they were all able to politely tell him that they regretfully didn't have time to stand and listen to the jokes, and did so in a manner that left Ricky smiling anyway. Nurses rock.

Dad is OK. He's mostly zonked on pain meds, as you'd expect, and prone to dropping into snoresome sleep in mid-conversation. Tomorrow he transfers to a rehab clinic elsewhere in Bangor, where he'll stay for a couple of weeks or so. This makes both my parents sad; they were hoping he could go someplace closer to home. (Bangor is an hour drive from Fairfield.) My principal role this week has been shuttling my mom between their house and St. Joe's, and Ricky will have to take over for me once I return. (Mom isn't thrilled about this, because Ricky drives even more like an old man than dad (who actually is an old man) does, but alas.)

It is time for me to read lots and lots of weblog entries now, which is why I came by Arcus today (that and picking up a late lunch and my first coffee of the day from Jorgy's... oh man, I am frazzled). Though I feel like napping because something kept me up past my bedtime last night.

Cheers to my friends down in the People's Republic of Camberville. I am sorry I couldn't be with you for... all this, and look forward to seeing you all again soon. (Though there are folks up here I am still hoping to see... I didn't think I'd be so busy just being a Good Son! Ah well, no complaints.)