Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Rock Obama
One more Miss Tif story: Child asks, is Rock Obama on this world? Miss Tif says, yes he is. Child says he thought Rock was dead. Another child says no, that was Michael Jackson. Child asks again if Rock is on this world, and if we get news about him. Miss Tif says, yes we do. Why, he asks, do we only get news from THIS world?
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
The journey
The other day, Jennifer D. told me she had always admired my relationship with you, and what a great kid you'd turned out to be. I told her that your dad and I would like to take credit, but that in fact, you are who you are and the real trick of parenting is to allow your child to become what he needs to be. I hope that we've done that, that we haven't pressured you too much and that we haven't let you loose without a foundation to build on. I have great faith in you and your abilities, but I'm always filled with self-doubt. That's the way parenting is.
Speaking of which, Lori D. is in a sad and diffcult place now with K. She can't trust anything he says. She asked to talk to Dad the other day for advice. K came home around 1 a.m. all bloodied and bruised and said he'd been "jumped." He apparently went with a friend to retrieve some ill-gotten funds for the sale of dope. When they got there, some people came out whomping and K pulled a knife. What was he thinking?
At any rate, he thought he'd nicked someone, but there was talk that the police were looking for him and that he'd be charged with attempted murder because someone had been hospitalized with serious knife wounds. Dad advised that they dress up and get down to the police station to talk to someone there and find out the facts of the situation.
As it turns out, there's no warrant for K's arrest and he was allowed to leave a written statement, in case. I think he lucked out. Really lucked out. This is serious business.
He's been lying about going to school and what he's turned in. This is so unfortunate since he's been given this second chance to graduate, and he really doesn't have much to finish before he could go to SLCC.
Drugs can do strange and curious things to people. They can make them lie, or unable to discern a lie from the truth. The thirst for money can do the same thing. There are no shortcuts in life. That's good because it's the journey that makes life interesting and meaningful.
This is what I wish for you - an interesting and meaningful life.
Speaking of which, Lori D. is in a sad and diffcult place now with K. She can't trust anything he says. She asked to talk to Dad the other day for advice. K came home around 1 a.m. all bloodied and bruised and said he'd been "jumped." He apparently went with a friend to retrieve some ill-gotten funds for the sale of dope. When they got there, some people came out whomping and K pulled a knife. What was he thinking?
At any rate, he thought he'd nicked someone, but there was talk that the police were looking for him and that he'd be charged with attempted murder because someone had been hospitalized with serious knife wounds. Dad advised that they dress up and get down to the police station to talk to someone there and find out the facts of the situation.
As it turns out, there's no warrant for K's arrest and he was allowed to leave a written statement, in case. I think he lucked out. Really lucked out. This is serious business.
He's been lying about going to school and what he's turned in. This is so unfortunate since he's been given this second chance to graduate, and he really doesn't have much to finish before he could go to SLCC.
Drugs can do strange and curious things to people. They can make them lie, or unable to discern a lie from the truth. The thirst for money can do the same thing. There are no shortcuts in life. That's good because it's the journey that makes life interesting and meaningful.
This is what I wish for you - an interesting and meaningful life.
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Oh that George
You have to know your dad to really appreciate him. I say this knowing that I never can fully understand him, and that's probably exactly what he wants. As you know, we ended up in the hospital partly because of his stubbornness. Back injuries are nothing to sniff at. They're quite disabling and very disorienting.
At any rate, Dad started to improve once he got some pain meds and some food. Indeed, he'd been in bed for two days without eating anything, and that's enough to throw anyone into the ozone.
But today, the day he was to be released, he seemed a little slower than the day before. Perhaps a little more pain as the meds wore off. At any rate, just imagine who teams of doctors - medical and psychiatric - coming in and asking him the same questions over and over again. What day is it, who's the president ... stuff like that.
Well, your dad is not one to give anyone straight answers when a circuitous route is easier and more fun. He kind of lets his brain take him where it may - a stream of consciousness for everyone to experience. I had to stop him a couple of times when he went off into the "I've had a back problem since 1956!" Or "I did plenty of exercise for 46 years." arghhh.
The doctors were especially keen on his brief, albeit colorful, hallucinations. The rainbow spiders, which Lori D. has labeled as significantly symbolic of the gay movement. ;-)
Just when I'm about to tell them to give it a rest, George launches into a story about having an MRI at midnight the night before. He has been quite interested in his roommate's condition (a very heavy man with cancer, who apparently has no family), and he told the docs that the guy refused to have his MRI and so the technicians asked Dad if he wanted to take his place.
This is, well, highly unusual for a medical facility. But maybe not. The docs began looking knowingly at one another, kind of rolling their eyes and wink-winking. Oh sure, you have an MRI at midnight. Right. Nothing in the charts, though.
I was just about convinced myself, until about an hour later when the head doctor came in sheepishly to say, well Mr. H, you did indeed have an MRI at midnight last night. They'd just forgotten to chart it.
Well, that was nothing compared to Dad's next story about getting a flu shot that also wasn't charted. This time, they had to believe him. No one wants to get two flu shots in one day.
He did worry me a little when he focused on the clock and said he saw the second hand filling up, like a mercury thermometer. But we were way ready to get out of there, so off we went.
He's been pretty tired tonight, but we're getting back on track. Despite not wanting to eat dinner at first, he finally did. He's been walking around a little and we're set for The Big Program tomorrow. And he is really motivated to get up and going for Game Weekend! Of course.
Tomorrow would also be the day I have told Indrani's mom and dad that I'd take their new Alaskan Malamute, Tuva, for the day. I think you know that Indrani's mom had a bone marrow transplant, and they're just in need of a little help with the puppy.
Yes I know - that will be FIVE. I think I should start a business.
At any rate, Dad started to improve once he got some pain meds and some food. Indeed, he'd been in bed for two days without eating anything, and that's enough to throw anyone into the ozone.
But today, the day he was to be released, he seemed a little slower than the day before. Perhaps a little more pain as the meds wore off. At any rate, just imagine who teams of doctors - medical and psychiatric - coming in and asking him the same questions over and over again. What day is it, who's the president ... stuff like that.
Well, your dad is not one to give anyone straight answers when a circuitous route is easier and more fun. He kind of lets his brain take him where it may - a stream of consciousness for everyone to experience. I had to stop him a couple of times when he went off into the "I've had a back problem since 1956!" Or "I did plenty of exercise for 46 years." arghhh.
The doctors were especially keen on his brief, albeit colorful, hallucinations. The rainbow spiders, which Lori D. has labeled as significantly symbolic of the gay movement. ;-)
Just when I'm about to tell them to give it a rest, George launches into a story about having an MRI at midnight the night before. He has been quite interested in his roommate's condition (a very heavy man with cancer, who apparently has no family), and he told the docs that the guy refused to have his MRI and so the technicians asked Dad if he wanted to take his place.
This is, well, highly unusual for a medical facility. But maybe not. The docs began looking knowingly at one another, kind of rolling their eyes and wink-winking. Oh sure, you have an MRI at midnight. Right. Nothing in the charts, though.
I was just about convinced myself, until about an hour later when the head doctor came in sheepishly to say, well Mr. H, you did indeed have an MRI at midnight last night. They'd just forgotten to chart it.
Well, that was nothing compared to Dad's next story about getting a flu shot that also wasn't charted. This time, they had to believe him. No one wants to get two flu shots in one day.
He did worry me a little when he focused on the clock and said he saw the second hand filling up, like a mercury thermometer. But we were way ready to get out of there, so off we went.
He's been pretty tired tonight, but we're getting back on track. Despite not wanting to eat dinner at first, he finally did. He's been walking around a little and we're set for The Big Program tomorrow. And he is really motivated to get up and going for Game Weekend! Of course.
Tomorrow would also be the day I have told Indrani's mom and dad that I'd take their new Alaskan Malamute, Tuva, for the day. I think you know that Indrani's mom had a bone marrow transplant, and they're just in need of a little help with the puppy.
Yes I know - that will be FIVE. I think I should start a business.
Monday, November 2, 2009
The Aftermath
Today, we were all suffering the effects of Halloween — too much candy! Tiffany had a stomach ache all day and I'm just trying to figure out how to stay away from the leftovers. Anne P came over for awhile today and I helped her pick out photos for a slide presentation on her new book. She should really be quite proud of all the work she put into it - since 2004! So all day after that, I wondered whether I would have the focus and drive to finish a book. Of course, I once wondered if I'd have the focus and drive to finish a long-form news article. I guess it all comes when you're ready for it.
I am still proud of your focus both on your studies and on your art — the piano. You definitely have the gift of concentration. Which brings me to your recent dissatisfaction with your studies. I could try to advise you, but I can see that you're developing some good judgment skills. We can talk about your progress and what you're gaining from Missouri as we go along. The good thing about avoiding hasty decisions is that it recognizes how things change. They can, of course, change for better or worse, and you should be able to tell.
Don't force things, though. If your path isn't obvious, then give it time.
I still can't believe you are almost 19! How did this happen? I guess it happened one year at a time - slowly, steadily. And here you are.
I am still proud of your focus both on your studies and on your art — the piano. You definitely have the gift of concentration. Which brings me to your recent dissatisfaction with your studies. I could try to advise you, but I can see that you're developing some good judgment skills. We can talk about your progress and what you're gaining from Missouri as we go along. The good thing about avoiding hasty decisions is that it recognizes how things change. They can, of course, change for better or worse, and you should be able to tell.
Don't force things, though. If your path isn't obvious, then give it time.
I still can't believe you are almost 19! How did this happen? I guess it happened one year at a time - slowly, steadily. And here you are.
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