Shingles Sucks

No, I didn't make a grammatical faux pas.   When I say 'shingles', I don't mean those stubbly little square things you put on your roof to keep the critters and weather out of your house -- I mean the illness that's caused by the same virus that causes chicken pox.    My poor mom developed shingles late last week, and it's been murder for the poor woman.   Shingles is a very painful, debilitating illness.   It has sapped her of most of the strength remaining in her 85-year-old body and also stolen her appetite, which is seriously not good when you're a diabetic.   Oh, and just for extra fun -- she also gets the pox, too!  Yay!   But at least they're high on one leg and can be covered with her shorts/pants.  

So when I heard Mom had shingles, I came up to spend a few days and make sure she didn't try to overdo.   And of course, my wonderful (cough cough) father still needed a drink brought to him, and his dang daily papers from two cities we don't live in picked up from the grocery store, and his clothes washed and folded, and his handkerchiefs ironed (?!), and whatever the heck else he's too busy watching some dang sporting event or other (really?  golf ALL DAY?  for 3 days in a row?!) to at least try and do for himself.   But...enough of that.   He's the way he is, he's always been this way, and obnoxious and selfish as he can be, I still love him because he's my dad and he always went to my softball games and he's always stood by me in whatever choices I've made in life.    And he thinks Dr. Husband walks on water, just like my mom does (insert eye roll here).

Anyway -- as I said, I stayed for a few days and basically spent those days cleaning, decluttering, throwing away, donating, and reorganizing most of my parents' house.   My parents are elderly and unable to move around well (even when they're NOT sick), so I was attempting to make things better for Mom.   Also did all the cooking/fetching, which I completely didn't mind.   Mom's feeling pretty punky, though -- she has to force herself to eat, and if she sits down, she falls asleep.   She's weak and dizzy and shaky, so I don't want her driving anywhere.   But with pain medications and anti-virals, I'm hoping she'll at least be able to get around on her own before long.   I went home for one day, picked up the Short One and the Wee One, and came back for another four days.    The heat's been a real bitch, though, which makes everything worse because my parents' house is not air-conditioned.

So why am I doing this, you ask?   Don't I have some siblings who can help take some of this on?   Yep, sure do.   They're all on vacation together, though, with their respective spouses.  Dr. Husband and I were not invited.   But it's a good thing we weren't, I guess.

Yeah...totally not fun.   But I would never dream of NOT doing this.   This is my MOTHER.   She took care of me, she helped me grow up, and she loved me when most other people didn't.  I more than "owe" her.   She keeps thanking me for taking care of her and my dad and the house.  I honestly can't imagine why she thinks I wouldn't.