I learned today that I do in fact have boundaries: I absolutely refuse to discuss the “50 Shades of Grey” series with my mother-in-law. Seriously. I will not budge. Refuse! It’s just…
….
But even with that one topic on my taboo list, I survived a full day in a hospital room with my in-laws completely unscathed. Not that I expected anything different, it’s just, you know, in eight years, I’ve never spent that much time with them, especially without my husband. We watched Crocodile Hunter, Hillbilly Handfishing or some such, Judge Joe Brown, and many many mob/Jesse James/secret tunnel documentaries. Despite the tension over the circumstances and the hours and hours and hours (did I mention it was HOURS?) of waiting, it was an easy, light, good day of nice conversation and comfortable silences.
My father-in-law is fine. The cath went better than expected. My mother-in-law is tired. It was still a stressful day with a lot of waiting. My ass is done. I sat in a transport chair all day. It could have been worse. It could have been so much worse. A clear cath in his case is beyond a blessing – it’s darn close to being a miracle.
Nobody should have to sit in a hospital with a loved one alone, and I’m glad I could be there for them, even if it was just to sit on my tail and play on my iPad all day.
Besides, it gave me a chance to rest my singing voice up for the 4-hour return-homeathon Broadway soundtrack screechfest en la mañana. I am READY!