Tonight's picture was taken in October of 2006. Mattie was four and a half years old and that evening we went over to Zachary's house (Mattie's close preschool buddy) to go trick or treating. Mattie and I created his calico costume the year before, but he never got to where it because he was in the hospital with sepsis for Halloween 2005. A year later, we pulled out the same costume and it fit Mattie perfectly. He was a very cute cat and Mattie and Zachary were inseparable friends.
Quote of the day: Grief knits two hearts in closer bonds than happiness ever can; and common sufferings are far stronger links than common joys. ~ Alphonse de Lamartine
I had to get my parents out the door this morning by 10am, in order to get to the hospital for my dad's physical therapy appointment. I have to allot an hour because my mom is in tow. Which means I have to get her to the hospital atrium, settled in a chair with a table, and I purchase her a hot tea while she is waiting. I feel great pressure on days where I have to leave the house before 11. Mainly because it is like herding cats. Despite my great efforts, my dad had to go to the bathroom right before we were going to leave, and that diverted my time line, as I had to clean the bathroom. Needless to say, I packed up all their bags, got their jackets on and got them in the car by 10:15. Only when I got to the hospital and wanted to show my dad's therapist a video of him doing one of his assigned exercises, did I realize, I left my phone at home. Since Mattie was diagnosed with cancer, the phone has become like my fifth appendage. I go no where without it. So the fact that I was away from home without my phone, was like a personal crisis.
I immediately grabbed my dad's phone during his session and text messaged Peter. I was concerned Peter would want to reach me and it was important for him to know I was operating without a phone. In addition, given the huge responsibility that I travel around with, having my phone is not a luxury but a necessity.
Turns out after the therapy session was over, I went down to the hospital atrium to collect my mom. When I did I noticed my phone on her table. My immediate thought was I accidently left it with her. NO! What happened was Peter got in the car and drove all the way to the hospital to drop off my phone, because he knows how crucial it is to my existence. That is a 30+ minute drive each way. I was grateful to have it because it turns out that the Foundation got some news today about funding of one of our research projects which required an immediate response. Thanks to Peter, I had my phone and could quickly respond.
After therapy, I took my parents out to eat. Honestly I should record this scene because it is a thorough show. Every morning when I wake my dad up, his first question to me always is.... Are we going out to eat today? I hear this every single day! Since he can't remember from one minute to the next, I hear this question constantly. I am not sure what kind of habits my parents developed while in Los Angeles, but they are both conditioned to eat out. They really don't like eating at home, and yet the only way they can go out now is to have me managing the whole thing.
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