Sunday, September 18, 2022

Sunday, September 18, 2022

Tonight's picture was taken in September of 2008. That day, Mattie's "girlfriend," Charlotte came to hospital to visit him. A pediatric intensive care unit is not for the meek, yet Charlotte came often to visit her friend. It truly was remarkable, because I know this environment scared most adults. But this to me speaks to the power of friendship. Mattie's favorite nurse, Tricia, understood the importance of socialization for Mattie and even though she had to access Mattie's IV lines, she did it in a way that gave both Mattie and Charlotte space. Mattie and Charlotte were watching Scooby Doo together and it was a peaceful moment in a day full of chaos. 

Quote of the day: The weird, weird thing about devastating loss is that life actually goes on. When you’re faced with a tragedy, a loss so huge that you have no idea how you can live through it, somehow, the world keeps turning, the seconds keep ticking. ~ James Patterson

We have Darwin's survival of the fittest happening in our own backyard. I can honestly handle fox, deer, and raccoons, but SNAKES, freak me out! I have NEVER liked them. They scare me to death. Even as a kid, I remember in grade school, when a naturalist was walking around holding a snake, I was petrified and leaned so far back (away from the snake), that the bench I sat on fell right over, taking all my classmates sitting with me down.

Peter snapped this photo and I am happy to report that the frog jumped and was not captured. This ugly looking snake is a checkered garter snake, harmless, but nonetheless daunting to me. 

A much better sighting in our yard. This weekend there have been many flutterbys, and I told Peter we are getting many visits from Mattie. 

Yesterday we took my parents out to eat, and the restaurant they like going to is featuring lobster this month. My dad NEVER remembers eating lobster before, so he wanted to try it. However, I knew from past experience that he isn't a lobster fan. 

I snapped this photo of my dad in anticipation of the lobster coming. I would say that food is his biggest motivator and despite how he is feeling, he always finds energy to eat.

The lobster. I have to say if I had to actually cook a live lobster or kill a live chicken, lamb, pig, or cow, I would never eat meat or seafood. 

That said, the lobster was very tasty. My dad said he is now over lobster and doesn't need to taste it again. No surprise to me. As for me I can't think of the last time I had a meal in peace. While eating with my dad, I am constantly balancing tissues, picking up his debris, and let's not forget countless trips to the bathroom.