I seem to be having some minor re-entry issues…
I’ll admit that I am having a few problems getting all my brain cells facing the same direction since I’ve returned from my 11 days of adventures in eldercare that ended shockingly well. (For those that are still catching up, Grandma cracked her pelvis, 4 1/2 days in the hospital, off to a spectacular rehab center that she seems to actually like - and I LOVE.) Rehab time is undetermined, but if she still likes the place when it’s done, she can stay, otherwise it’s home w/ 24/7 assistance.)
First off, I am completely freezing my ass off. When I was in Phoenix, the highs were between 95 and 110 each day, and I was acclimated to it instantaneously. While I won’t bullshit you and say “Oh, but it’s a dry heat” because it certainly isn’t anymore, it’s certainly a heat that is a far sight drier than Virginia. I got off the plane at National and immediately felt the need for a sweater. Someone threw a switch while I was gone and we went from summer to fall damn near instantaneously. Don’t get me wrong - the weather has been GORGEOUS since I got back - but I came home prepared for more of the 90s and humid that I left, rather than low 80s and dry that has actually been here.
When I was in Phoenix, I rented a Wrangler X - normally I get a motorized rollerskate because I cannot judge what cars in the rental inventory will actually fit in my grandmother’s garage other than the super-compact. (This has not been helped with the knowledge that my Mom managed to crease a quarterpanel on a rental car in said garage the last time she was there.) No garage issues this time, so I told the rental agent when he informed me I could get an upgrade, “Well, do you have any of the Wranglers? Cause this trip is gonna suck, so I might as well have a fun car.” The only problem was it was a 4-banger, and I quickly learned that I had to stand on the gas to get any giddyup out of it. Come home to my Liberty 6-banger, and I damn near gave myself whiplash when I tried to drive yesterday. Today was somewhat better. I suspect that by Monday I’ll no longer look like a 17 year old learning to drive a stick shift. It’s especially bad since my Liberty is an automatic. (Mind you, I still covet the Wrangler X - just in a V6.)
Finally, and the most disconcerting - I am having some real problems wrapping my brain around the fact that we are hurtling our way towards mid-September. Last night I looked at a piece of paper for a Football Survival league that said “Money in by Sept 8th” and I said out loud, “Well, that’s still a week off.” (Thanks to my brother for pointing out that it we were actually a day past it. And thanks to the organizer that took my entry anyway.) Seriously, when I left town it was still August! And HOT! Honestly, the only way you could prove to me I was gone for 11 days would be to show me my hotel bill. Other than that, it was a complete and utter blur and all the days completely ran together. It was such an expedition down the rabbit hole from start until finish, that without documentation, I couldn’t tell you if I’d been out there five days or a full month. One thing that I have never faulted my grandmother for was the fact that she had to look at her calendar to see what day it was - lord knows I had to look every morning while I was there , and by noon I still forgot what part of the week we were in. Oh, and I was the one who supposedly had all her faculties intact. It’s very weird to have 11 days basically dematerialize - probably made worse by missing Labor Day weekend - not having that ceremonial “change of season” can really muck with your brain, especially when you come back and everyone else has had it except you.
Hopefully going for a hard-core “sleep late and be a lazy bum” weekend will help me somewhat get back into sync with the universe come Monday. We’ll see!
Originally posted at CafeChatNoir.net.
Permalink - click to comment!
