The past couple of days that I featured architecture around the town.... I really didn't talk about anything else that has been going on. Partly because I don't want to bog everyone down with useless information... and partly because I am simply overwhelmed.
As I mentioned in a previous post.... my son got engaged to his girlfriend when I was down in Geisinger (where/when my dad had his surgery). I love my son... and I adore his fiance... but it was kinda sad that all this was going on while I wasn't there. Since then, they have been very busy with various preparations... sharing the news to family and friends... and trying to get things organized. They are both in school, and he is also working full time... so their lives are crazy busy at the moment. Add in relatives who aren't so happy about the wedding... trying to find an apartment, minister, church, reception hall.....school, work.... and then add that they plan on getting married on the 23rd. Yes... this month.
There has been alot of additional stress... as plans keep changing... almost daily... for alot of reasons that I really won't go in to... you'll have to trust me on that one... but as a mom, you always want to be their for your children, and this time... I can't.
Fortunately... I am married to a wonderful man... and an excellent father... who is more than handling and helping out with things at home.
Last night I was feeling very tired, and frustrated. This has been a "long haul"... for everyone involved.... and I was feeling a bit tapped out. I was in the kitchen while my parents were getting ready for the night.... when my mom quietly announced that she was having chest pain. It is probably comical in retrospect... but here I was trying to help my dad with his stuff... and running back to my mom who was having chest pain... giving her nitroglycerin... taking a pulse... watching the clock... trying to keep her calm (*no small feat).. and rushing back to check my dad....
Fortunately, my daughter is simply awesome and took over bedside calming and observation for my mom. When the nitro didn't help; and things were getting worse pretty quickly... I called 911. 8 hours later we got back home. Mom had had a pretty intense episode of angina... but fortunately (because of early administration of the nitro and the fact that I bullied her into stopping and laying down... O2... and fabulous care by the ambulance crew and the ER crew)... she was spared any damage.
My daughter stayed at home with my dad... and was excellent with him, and helped him with his care... and helped him keep calm as well. I couldn't be more proud of her.
We all finally got to sleep around 8am.
We got up late in the afternoon... and I went "foraging" for dinner. I decided to head out of town slightly, and took a detour through a quiet road near the woods. (yes... I went on paved roads... no more getting stuck in the mud).
I ended up stopping at the Sweden Valley Inn. This is a fabulous family owned bar & restaurant. I haven't been there in years... but I know the family who owns it.... and I have heard wonderful things....
I was not disappointed.
I sat at the bar area and ordered some food to go. While I waited, it was suggested that I try one of the specialty hot cocoas. They have several "international" selections... the Irish Cocoa includes Bailey's Irish cream; one features Kahlua and cream, etc. I chose the one that had Butterscotch Schnapps in it. WOW. It was freakin awesome (photo below).
Just as I was finishing.. my dinner arrived and I took it home. We had fresh baked haddock with lemon and garlic, home-made coleslaw, fresh applesauce, rolls, and a dinner salad as one entree. The other entree I got was southern fried chicken with french fries. Between those 2 entrees... we had more than enough food for the 4 of us. I also was gifted an entire peanut butter cream pie from the owner's mother... who is a friend of the family, and wanted to give my parent's a gift.
This pie was a thing of beauty.... and I couldn't adequately describe it if I wanted. Trust me. Get some. Total cost for the dinners and drink $26.
I am including a photo of the small pond beside the inn, where there is a family of mallards ...
We are all exhausted. Tired from being sick... tired from traveling to appointments, hospital visits... day to day activities made harder due to stress and illness.... it's been formidable.
And yet... out of this all... such wonderfulness. Well wishes and prayers from tons of people... some of whom we don't even know. Fresh flowers... spring blooming around us... birds chirping.... nice weather.....
A lady not only took time out of her schedule... but came to the house to cut my dad's hair... and then would not take payment; saying it was her gift...
Bags of books sent because my dad likes to read.....
Offers from people to help with transportation when my dad starts his daily radiation soon...
And like the pie that we were given... it's all be wonderful, gracious... and so very very sweet.
*all photos by Elaine A. RussellSee more on the Sweden Valley Inn: here
-----------------------------------a collage of photos taken at Charles Cole Memorial Hospital today
