A Conversation With You
Illness in the family can be a trying time. My baby was not well. The illness took a long time to be diagnosed and the treatment even longer. My world had come to a standstill as I tried to nurse and watch the specialists at their job. It had made me irritable and worry lines were well pronounced on my face. The former I agree to because I had been snapping at any question thrown towards me. About the dark circles under my eyes it is an observation of other members in our family.
My husband a calm gentleman, had been arranging for the specialists and I have been warning him not to fall for “quacks”. You see how many are genuine knowledgeable professionals today; most of them are “learnt the trade on the job” variety. Oh I can now tell them by their gait, their probing questions and the blank look as they stare at my baby.
The other day I had to show a specialist the door for trying to touch my baby with dirty hands. How could he! No sense of hygiene! I was so upset that I did not have my lunch. I am not seeking sympathy or pity but I want my near and dear ones to understand that I am going through some stressful times. Since it is an intimate conversation with you, I have no qualms in opening my heart to you. I know you will not let me down. My two grown up children do not understand too.
My son keeps calling all the way from USA asking me what medicine he has to take for his bout of asthma. He is big enough to know that and surely not disturb me with such trifle issues. My baby is sick, suffering from an unknown virus, I try to communicate that to him as well. Then my daughter, working, calls up asking me about my health! God! When will they ever understand the gravity of the situation? As if that was not enough she even wrote in a mail asking me not to be so jumpy and be calm and take things in my stride. It is a lost world for me, with a sick baby how else can I be?
Then there are the “do-gooders” lot. They always know how to rub salt on the wound but sweetly. They come up with the wisest suggestions that could have avoided the disaster. Hear this, an aunt with the most honey soaked voice advised me “…always keep it under wraps, dust is what you need to protect it from” How could she even imagine that I keep my baby exposed! Another said “…do not allow too many to handle it.” IT? Who my baby? What audacity! I crashed the phone down. “Hope you are going in for the specialists, I could suggest someone” No thanks, leave me alone I said under my breath.
In all this my husband showed me two guest invitations for a play that had the town talking about. But how am I to leave an ailing baby back at home, just no one understands! Nursing is not an easy task. I even sing hoping that the music therapy might just work.
The most well known specialist known to track any virus down is coming home this evening, my husband gave me this good news over the phone. It took some amount of pleading and names dropping before he agreed. He is coming armed with an antidote that costs a bomb, my husband said. Never mind, we will cut down on all other expenses including phone calls to our two now grown up children.
With an air of authority the specialist came. Without wasting any time he just got straight to the job. This attitude is very comforting. He knew his job, he reversed the position of the baby, gently yet firmly loosened all covers and then removed them. Then in one swift movement removed the brain and replaced it with a new one.
Covers put back, he re-booted the system. Excuse me; I have a problem with the phrase “re- boot”, it hurts. Then he injected it with the latest anti virus and assured me that now my baby is well protected.
I asked for an immunization schedule to help prevent any such attack. He laughed, rude man I thought. He got the meaning though and assured me that it would be automatically done. Relieved, I looked Heaven wards thanking the Lord.
“My Charges” these words brought my gaze down at the elaborate sheet he was holding out. The figure to be paid made my jaws drop and eyes pop out. After the specialist left, I asked my husband if this was not covered under our medical insurance. After all it was a brain transplant. Poor man he just stared at me, words failing him once again.
To see the cursor blinking again made me happy. How and when a machine had become such an integrated part of our family I had no clue. My mind went out to my two grown up kids staying far away. A click or two later I had them both smiling on my screen. I missed them I said and sent virtual hugs and kisses. Don’t know what they felt but for me it was my world that I got back from the clutches of a virus.
It has been a long time since I had this heart to heart chat with you too. Now you know the reason. I missed you, did you?
My husband a calm gentleman, had been arranging for the specialists and I have been warning him not to fall for “quacks”. You see how many are genuine knowledgeable professionals today; most of them are “learnt the trade on the job” variety. Oh I can now tell them by their gait, their probing questions and the blank look as they stare at my baby.
The other day I had to show a specialist the door for trying to touch my baby with dirty hands. How could he! No sense of hygiene! I was so upset that I did not have my lunch. I am not seeking sympathy or pity but I want my near and dear ones to understand that I am going through some stressful times. Since it is an intimate conversation with you, I have no qualms in opening my heart to you. I know you will not let me down. My two grown up children do not understand too.
My son keeps calling all the way from USA asking me what medicine he has to take for his bout of asthma. He is big enough to know that and surely not disturb me with such trifle issues. My baby is sick, suffering from an unknown virus, I try to communicate that to him as well. Then my daughter, working, calls up asking me about my health! God! When will they ever understand the gravity of the situation? As if that was not enough she even wrote in a mail asking me not to be so jumpy and be calm and take things in my stride. It is a lost world for me, with a sick baby how else can I be?
Then there are the “do-gooders” lot. They always know how to rub salt on the wound but sweetly. They come up with the wisest suggestions that could have avoided the disaster. Hear this, an aunt with the most honey soaked voice advised me “…always keep it under wraps, dust is what you need to protect it from” How could she even imagine that I keep my baby exposed! Another said “…do not allow too many to handle it.” IT? Who my baby? What audacity! I crashed the phone down. “Hope you are going in for the specialists, I could suggest someone” No thanks, leave me alone I said under my breath.
In all this my husband showed me two guest invitations for a play that had the town talking about. But how am I to leave an ailing baby back at home, just no one understands! Nursing is not an easy task. I even sing hoping that the music therapy might just work.
The most well known specialist known to track any virus down is coming home this evening, my husband gave me this good news over the phone. It took some amount of pleading and names dropping before he agreed. He is coming armed with an antidote that costs a bomb, my husband said. Never mind, we will cut down on all other expenses including phone calls to our two now grown up children.
With an air of authority the specialist came. Without wasting any time he just got straight to the job. This attitude is very comforting. He knew his job, he reversed the position of the baby, gently yet firmly loosened all covers and then removed them. Then in one swift movement removed the brain and replaced it with a new one.
Covers put back, he re-booted the system. Excuse me; I have a problem with the phrase “re- boot”, it hurts. Then he injected it with the latest anti virus and assured me that now my baby is well protected.
I asked for an immunization schedule to help prevent any such attack. He laughed, rude man I thought. He got the meaning though and assured me that it would be automatically done. Relieved, I looked Heaven wards thanking the Lord.
“My Charges” these words brought my gaze down at the elaborate sheet he was holding out. The figure to be paid made my jaws drop and eyes pop out. After the specialist left, I asked my husband if this was not covered under our medical insurance. After all it was a brain transplant. Poor man he just stared at me, words failing him once again.
To see the cursor blinking again made me happy. How and when a machine had become such an integrated part of our family I had no clue. My mind went out to my two grown up kids staying far away. A click or two later I had them both smiling on my screen. I missed them I said and sent virtual hugs and kisses. Don’t know what they felt but for me it was my world that I got back from the clutches of a virus.
It has been a long time since I had this heart to heart chat with you too. Now you know the reason. I missed you, did you?
posted by Autumn Leaf | 2:21 PM
2 Comments:
Yes we did miss you....and glad that the conversation has started all over again :)
Hope your baby remains healthy from now on...even I have a baby with whom i spend most of my time....its strange sometimes how inanimate objects can hold such crucial roles in our lives...but I guess it is the age of technology...so quite possible! :)
I knew it, I always knew it that someone other than me would also realise that this is NOT a machine. This is the closest man has come to creating a friend. Lets raise a toast to all our 'babies'!
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