Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Saint Van

Today was my first day out of isolation. This morning Allika said, "Momma gets to act normal today."

So many things I could say about that.

I wish I had taken a picture of my little radioactive corner. Once I touched something, it became radioactive and couldn't leave the area I was in, so I was rapidly being taken over by dishes, laundry, trash, etc. It was good to get it all out of here today.

Allika came home Sunday night. We still had 3 days of "limited contact." She did really well, considering, but didn't like it one bit.

Our little doggy couldn't understand what was going on, either. We had to keep her in Allika's room because she would come straight to me if she was allowed out. It made it worse for her the nights that Allika was gone. She is happily stretched out beside me right now as I type.

Poor Van. Bless his heart. He had to do everything. It was hard for me to watch him running around like a chicken with its head cut off while I was perfectly capable of helping but couldn't. He got so stressed out. He had to take care of his normal duties plus cook, clean, take care of Allika and the dog, run errands, etc. I remember one time when he made breakfast, served me, fed Allika and got her ready for the day, started her schoolwork while he did dishes and cleaned up, worked with her until she was done, immediately started cooking lunch, fed me and her, didn't even have time to eat because he had to make some time-sensitive calls, cleaned up after lunch, and had to take care of other responsibilities with his job while trying to keep Allika occupied and away from me. The whole time, I'm just sitting in my corner reading a book.

Someday I will make a confession about the awful way I added to his stress by insisting he butter my toast as soon as it comes out of the toaster instead of waiting until it got cold.

I know. Ridiculous. It was not one of my proudest moments.

I did get rather cross sometimes sitting there, doing nothing. No excuses. Just keepin' it real here.

I got quite a bit of my booklist read. Do you know what that means? Lots of material floating around in my brain that has to go somewhere. And what better place than here with all of you, my lovely friends?

Van laughs when I read a book. It's probably a good thing I don't read more than I do. I have to share every profound thing I read with him. When I finish a book, I exclaim profusely over its goodness and insist that he read it, as well. This is because the book is making inroads into my thought processes and I want us to discuss these things and be on the same page together. It's relational. I do the same thing with my food.

"You've got to try this!!"

"I don't want to."

"Please just take a bite?"

"Tani, I'm fine with what I ordered."

"But you don't know what you're missing. It would mean so much to me if you would just try it."

He usually relents. Then, much to his chagrin, I like to try his, too.

Life is all about sharing and experiencing things together.

Raise your hand if you think Van's a saint.

6 comments:

  1. ha ha :) best wishes to you both! have a great weekend coming up

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  2. You are hilarious! And I'm with you on the toast thing...it HAS to buttered as soon as it comes out; otherwise the butter doesn't melt right! If If I have toast in the toaster, then go do something else and the toast pops up while I'm not there.....back in the toaster it goes until it's nice and warm again! haha

    Kudos to Van too...not an easy thing to do. But what's harder...him doing it, or you having to sit there and watch it and be helpless!!

    Love to read your humor even during the uncertain times in your life!!

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  3. Oh, I am so glad I'm not the only one OCD about my toast.

    It was hard on both of us, but I still think he gets the prize for the hardest time. =)

    Thanks, anonymous for your solidarity with me.

    I hope you have a good week, too, Emily. Are you going to Jackpine? Stay warm. =)

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  4. Wow, I am pretty impressed with myself!

    Uh-oh, there went my sainthood.

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  5. HAND RAISED!! AND MY TOAST MUST BE BUTTERED ASAP, OR NO GO, ALSO.
    GLAD TO HEAR YOU'RE ALL ADJUSTING TO NORMALITY - EVEN POOCHIE.
    lOVE MOM

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