The Emotions

On the way down to Georgia, we stopped at a hotel for the night. We got some sad news via telephone between our trips to the pool and the happy hour. My mom was in the emergency room because she had a stroke that day. Her stroke is called a TIA stroke and it doesn't leave your body damaged, but it is a scary episode involving slurred speech, massive headache and raging blood pressure. It was surprising to walk into the house the next day to see my mom in the kitchen making a green bean casserole. I had mixed emotions because I was so relieved that there would be green bean casserole, but felt that maybe my mom should be resting comfortably somewhere. My mom just laughed at this idea and began pulling out ingredients for the pecan pie. Again, I felt conflicted. So happy about the pecan pie. But also worried that something bad might happen to my mom right there in the kitchen. Everything turned out great. Dinner was fantastic and we had a splendid visit with my mom and dad and sibs. I don't know why I didn't inherit my mom's toughness. Last week I was on the couch for hours depressed because of a sore pinky toe. It still hurts a little and I haven't been walking because of this malady. I'm going to stop spending valuable time googling "sore pinky toe" and get out for a little walk today. I'm pretty sure my mom would do the same.