Two Down...Three to Go

Today's trip to the Risky Business Center was simply unremarkable.  No equipment malfunctions.  No fluid mechanics lessons.  The IV went in with minimal discomfort.  No annoying alarms. No Broomhilda.  Just 1000 mg of The Poison  The Juice. Drip...Drip...Drip.

My Annie with the Million Watt Smile was the designated grown-up Responsible Adult today.  She came and got me in her black convertible and we went to the Market Place at the Church House. I bought some goodies to take to the staff at the Risky Business Center.  A little bribery is a good thing.

We enjoyed wandering through the booths and managed to stimulate the economy just a bit with our few purchases.  We went to lunch at a new Mexican Restaurant and enjoyed  our meal.  We rode with the top down on a beautiful day!  It was great {Rocket Man is going to have to get me a convertible!  We're probably going to have to replace the dead vehicle parked at the curb.  Might as well get something with a convertible top.  Its worth a try!}

Rocket Man arrived when the drip was about half done.  He and Annie entertained me until I was done.  Just as we were about to make a clean getaway, Rocket Man realized his parking ticket wasn't validated.  The receptionist was gone for the day.  But in typical Rocket Man fashion, he got his validation and we were off.

We went to the Rocket Office so Rocket Man could finish his Rocket Work for the day.  I acutally dozed a bit {an amazing thing with the amount of The Poison The Juice that I have cursing through my veins}.  We came home and have been like slugs ever since.

All in all...not a bad day.  No tears.  No tantrums.  No 'roid rage.  Didn't even go on a steroid shopping spree.  I don't feel so pretty good and wonder if I'll ever sleep for more than 45 minutes at a time again...but I have seen bits and pieces of some of my favorite movies on TV. 

Did all that, and nobody got hurt.  Not a bad day.  Not a bad day at all!

~Mollianne

Disclaimer Required

{Disclaimer:  This post is being written shortly after a visit to the Risky Business Center (also known as the Wound and Diabetes Care Clinic, a place where they also do infusions) where I received the first of five IVInfusions of  1000 mg Solu-Medrol  (hereafter referred to as The Poison The Juice).  I *might* be feeling just a little bit sassy, stoked, jittery, crazed, irrational, hungry, whiney, frustrated, exuberant, funny, etc. etc. etc.  Who knows what could happen.  Just sayin'!}   

Rocket Man and I entered the Risky Business Center exactly 2 minutes before my appointment time at 9:00 am this morning.  I should tell you that I asked for a later appointment when we scheduled this circus, only to be told, "Mrs. Rocket Man...you can't just decide when you come for treatment.  You have to let us make those decisions."  {Really?}

We were ushered back to a treatment room, after I was weighed (blech) and had my blood pressure checked.  I said for the 3rd time that  yea, verily, I was born on 5-20-1957 {now EVERYONE who can add and subtract knows how old I am} and that my name is indeed Mollianne Buster Massey {and how many ways can  you pronounce that?}  The very nice tech left me and said that a nurse would be with me 'right away'.  Mind you, I HAD to be there at 9:00.  Sharp! 

After the usual jokes and banter, Rocket Man pulled out the Kindle and continued his quest to read the entire Qur'an {don't ask me why...I simply record what I know to be true...I read Kierkegaard... who am I to question anyone else's choice of reading matter?}.  I started flipping through a Bath and Kitchen Remodeling magazine {hey...a girl can dream, can't she?}.  At 9:26, Rocket Man looked up over his glasses at me with a Trademark Rocket Man look {usually not a good sign} and said, "At precisely 9:30, would you mind if I went to the nurses desk and ask them when we can start this train?"  I {wisely} said he should feel free.

At 9:30 on the dot, Nurse Nancy came down to tell us she was sorry for the delay, blamed it on 'the doctors' and said she'd be with us shortly.  Shortly turned out to be 26 minutes later.  Not that anyone was timing the process or anything. 

After answering yet again to my name and birthdate and signing my discharge papers {yep, before the treatment began}, we all agreed that I was there to get 1 gram of Solu-Medrol.  Let's get this game of Molli Sticks {not nearly as much fun as Poohsticks} going.  Nurse Nancy got me in one try { have lovely veins, although I'm told I have large valves which sometimes causes a problem}.  Hooray for Nurse Nancy!

So the drip started.  1 hour and 10 minutes past my 9:00 a.m. SHARP arrival time.  Rocket Man was not amused.  Nor was he amused at the whole runaround about how long we were going to take to drip The Poison  The Juice into my system.  {I won that argument}

30 minutes into the treatment, the blood pressure cuff did its job.  Blood pressure was 94/55.   At 47 minutes, the infusion pump stopped and started sounding this gosh-awful, annoying alarm beep.  I guess that is so the nurse will hear it and come a) fix what the matter is and hopefully b) fix it.  In retrospect, I think it beeps  so I will push the call button to let her know that something is wrong. 

Broomhilda answered the call.  After explaining something about detergent wash to my extremely intelligent, highly overprotective, no-nonsense Rocket Man-who really is a Rocket Scientist- {speaking to him like he was an idiot, mind you} and something else about the mechanics of the equipment, and fumbling around for about 10 to 15 minutes {but, why are we worried about time at this point in the morning...lunch hour...almost afternoon?}  she got it running again.  Then, she amended her comments about detergent wash, because that was for a different medication, not the one I'm taking.  Guess she didn't know EVERYTHING, now did she?  Shooting him a disdainful glance, she made a quick exit.  He looked up over his glasses again {I knew this was going to be good} and told me that he'd bet he knew more about Fluid Mechanics than Broomhilda did. 

The blood pressure cuff slipped down past my elbow and I just left it there.  Until it started inflating and I tried to get it back up where it belonged.  I started laughing and he jumped up to try to get it on.  I was nearly hysterical at this point and in walked Broomhilda.  She glared at my amazing Rocket Man and asked me if he was bothering me.  Are you kidding me?  I told her that the cuff wasn't working right.  She said it wasn't on properly {ya think?} and got it on to her satisfaction.  Glaring at us, because Rocket Man was laughing by this point, she marched out, neveer to be seen again.

The cuff started inflating and the machine went crazy.  We got an alarm and an error reading.  After an ear-splitting few seconds, the cuff deflated.  We were rolling in laughter at this point.  We had 2 more error indicents and the machine righted itself, just as Rocket Man was about to call for help.

The infusion pump malfunctioned 2 more times.  I got the very last drop of The Poison The Juice.  Wouldn't want to miss any of that yummy good stuff.  Nurse Nancy told me that I could reschedule my 9:00 am (sharp!) appointment tomorrow for 1: 15 pm, which suits us much better.  The 90 minute infusion itself lasted over 2 hours.  The waiting and fumbling lasted over an hour. 

I was discharged, wearing my hospital bracelet, to the care and keeping of the Rocket Man and we beat cheeks ...er....feet out of there.  3+ hours at the Risky Business Center is more than enough for us in one day. 

If  you see me without Rocket Man or some other Responsible Adult in the next few days, you might want to try to corner me and call the ICE number on my magic pink cell phone.  I'm not supposed to be left on my own. This is the Rocket Man's Rule.  Not mine.  Not the doctor's orders.  Rocket Man's alone.   On accout-a I'm on The Poison The Juice. 

Who knows what I might do!

~Mollianne

Some things that just can't wait

I had a conversation recently with a friend and I realized I heard a phrase from him that I have heard him say occasionally over the years. (and one I'm sure I've thought and said as well)  He said he was ready to get to a point where he could just enjoy life.

And that got me to thinking. 

As things often do.

(don't be alarmed...I'm a trained thinker. 

I have a degree in Philosophy.  Its what we do!)

Even though I know in my head and my heart that all of life's moments are supposed to be treasured and enjoyed...I don't always do it.  Even when I'm purposeful about living in the today, something in my pointy little head is straining to see what lies ahead or making plans and contingencies.

But, you know what?

Some things just can't be put off.

Like enjoying the first flowers of spring,

because they don't last.

Like laughing at an 11 year old boy's silly jokes,

because he will soon be 12 and maybe he won't want to tell me those silly jokes. 

Like calling someone who is on my heart to check in,

because they might not live through the night.

(learned this one the hard way)

Like saying 'yes I can' to the person who stops me on the street for help

because I might be his last hope for help.  Even if I can't give him more help than an encouraging word while looking him in the eye and acknowleding him as a person.

Like taking every opportunity to show love and speak love to the ones I love most,

because they need to hear it and I need to say it.

Like smiling

Like singing

Like dancing

Like laughing
Like praying
Like worship

Like giving joyfully from my abundance

Like taking care of my physical well being

Like crying
Like crying with someone in great pain or need

Like allowing myself to feel the wonder of the earth

and express my joy

and embrace my life.  All of it! (even the not so great parts)

Because, I don't know how long I'm going to be here.

And I don't know how long you are going to be here.

And I don't want to say in the end,

"I sure wish I'd done (fill in the blank) ..."

So, I'm going to encourage my friend to enjoy the here and now and not wait for that someday when some made-for-TV movie that he has embedded in his mind begins to happen in his life.  I'm going to suggest that he embrace the opportunites of today, so that he will appreciate the blessings of tomorrow. 

And I just might do a little more of that myself.

~Mollianne

Godspeed, Discovery

Shuttle Discovery

There she stands, waiting at the pad as the countdown clock ticks away.

Shuttle Discovery is scheduled to launch at 4:50 p.m. tomorrow. 

STS-133 marks Discovery's last voyage into space.

I had plans, big plans, to be there to view the launch.  Not quite a life-long dream...as the Shuttle program has only been flying since my children were babies.  Not ever my dream to see the last launch of any given spacecraft.  But the dream of a lifetime, nonetheless.

Things happen.  Plans change.  Circumstances beyond our control at times close opportunities. Unfortunately, the opportunities to view a shuttle launch are extremely limited. 

I will watch from a television or perhaps my computer. 

I will pray for the crew, for mission control and for their families and friends. 

Godspeed, Discovery. 

Fly true. 

Deliver  your cargo and return home safely.

~Mollianne

Sometimes, I Just Feel Like a Squirrel

Sometimes I feel like a flying squirrel...leaping from one precarious limb to another

Sometimes I feel like a bat must have flown into my bedroom while I was asleep...no, wait!  That DID happen!

Most days I feel like this squirrel...just too doggone fat!

Sometimes, I feel like hissing at the world

Sometimes I feel like I'm out of place...or on another planet

Occasionally, I feel like Super Squirrel

Sometimes, I feel like I'm trapped with no place to go

Mostly, I feel like I'm very loved and cared for.

How about you?  Ever feel like a squirrel?

Sound in the Night

I heard it again last night.

Something so wonderful that I can’t complain…even though it wakes me up in the night,

often from a sound sleep.

Something I hope I never take for granted or become so accustomed to

 that I only hear it as noise in the background.

Something that makes my world complete and my heart whole.

Something that speaks to safety and well-being.

Something that I longed for most of my life and hope to bask in for the rest of my life.

I heard the voice of my Rocket Man.  He brushed the hair from my face as I lay sleeping.

He tenderly kissed my cheek and offered a prayer, whispering, “God Bless and Keep my Molli”

It happens most nights.

Sometimes I am so deep in sleep that I’m not sure if I heard it or not.

But last night, I know I did, because I wasn’t asleep. I was laying quietly,

listening to the ticking of the clock and the gentle sound of his breathing.

We have a crazy day today. We spent the weekend out of town with our grandchildren, so usual weekend chores went undone. They will remain undone for at least a week, due to the craziness today.

I suggested that we not make a big deal out of Valentine’s Day this year. Because, really…when I hear, “God Bless and Keep my Molli” almost every night of the year…I know that I am loved. I don’t need a card with a heart, flowers, chocolates or dinner.

In some small way, each day that I live with the Amazing Rocket Man…it is always Valentine’s Day.

Ed and Mollianne got married and are living happily ever after

~Mollianne

A Letter to the Boys Fantastic



The Boys Fantastic

Dear Mac Attack and Boy Wonder,

Thank you for such a fun-filled weekend.  It was really a lot of fun to take a road trip and go to Chattanooga with you.  Along with the fishes and rocks and waterfalls, I saw some amazing things.

I saw a boy who looked out for the young children all around and

stepped back to let small children get closer to the exhibits.

Mac Attack

I saw two boys who took the change out of their pockets when they thought nobody

was looking and put it in the tip cup where we ate dinner.

I saw a boy who came to find his Grandmother just to check and make sure she was okay.

I saw adolescence trying to be cool, with silly boy still just under the surface.

I saw unabahsed awe and wonder at the beauty of God's world.

Boy Wonder

I saw good natured teasing met with laughter.

I saw boys who said 'thank you' for everything that was done for them...over and over again. 

I saw boys who are teetering on the precipice of being young men...boys who hold a part of my heart in their beings as well as my blood and genes...boys who are interested and interesting...Boys Fantastic.

God Bless you, my dear Boys, and keep you in His care.

Love always,

Grandmother