Day #78 > SATURDAY 9th JANUARY
My day starts with a bit of a panic as I receive an Email confirming that my USA visa runs out soon. Very soon. In 10 days soon! Eek.
I confess I’d completely forgotten about the 90-day limit on visiting the US of Awesomeness, so I need to move at pace now; I spend most of the day rearranging flights, composing letters to various authorities & then head out-out to get copies printed of the letters I’ve composed to the relevant authorities along with finding some accommodation for next week. Oh yes, & a great big dirty burger too – well, when in Rome . . .
Ah yes, The Plan. Well, the plan has evolved to leave Deweyland next Tuesday but to stay in nearby Columbia for a few days before popping back to see Mum & Bob as a little surprise over the weekend; as my heart is concerned that the moment I step out of Little & Large’s daily life all will revert to how it was previously, & of course I am trying to do all I can to avoid that, despite my hand being forced . . .
Now, let’s regroup. Mum is now dry & completely off meds; she’s not delusional & has also come through the 12-week neck collar sentence unscathed, so there’s clear improvement in quality of life. However, it’s potentially a fine line between continued improvement & regressing, so I’ve got individual appointments at the alcoholics group arranged; I’ve got social services involved; Mum’s due to receive a weekly visit to help stimulate her brain & provide cognitive stimulation; the Dewey’s family doctor knows everything that’s happening as does Mum’s sister Jane plus Dion & Gina the neighbours – & of course she’s a pastor with a history of social care so is ideally placed should help be required. Good.
So in the meantime before I leave on Tuesday there’s a lot more to arrange – not least of which is the Covid PCR test to gain entry back into Blighty which is proving difficult to source, but I’ll address that next week once I have more time.
So far I have accommodation booked for next week – a cheap Airbnb room in central Columbia – & a lift to get there, & I’ll address all the other once I’m settled in.
And breathe . . .
Ok, back to reality; Mum & I walk Abel & all good; Mum appears to be suffering no after-effects of last night’s wine – & I touch on it & she recalls having it but qualifies it with the fact that it was the first time in ages & it didn’t really taste that nice, plus she has no desire for any more – so on the face of it she seems absolutely fine. ‘Normal’ if you like. I let Mum know that I’ll be leaving soon due the Visa issue although I’m not sure exactly when, but within the week. Mum again voices that she can’t see herself ending her days at Deweyland, & I again confirm that she is more than welcome to come with me – for a vacation or permanently – & that she’s not on her own in her future anymore; but if she wants to move from Deweyland then she needs to discuss all with Bob, as it’s both of their lives on the line here – & as Bob constantly says his goal is, & I quote, ’to live a long & happy life with you Susan’, so perhaps simply speak with him & ask how that will happen along with letting him know your thoughts, dreams, wishes & fears Mum. Do it all together I suggest. Talk it through. Tell him. Communicate to each other. She knows she needs to, but she doesn’t seem keen to address it.
They have a quiet morning whilst I’m on the phone & t’interweb, but come 2.30pm I’m ready to head out to the shops for a US SIM card to make phone calls a whole lot easier, along with printing & bits ’n’ bobs. Mum is now having a snooze, so I let Bob know that I’ll be leaving the US of Awkwardness soon – because my visa is running out & as it’s caught me unaware it looks like I’ll be heading out next Tuesday, so need to make all arrangements quickly. I told him that I felt for him last night, choosing to drink water & then hearing Mum choose wine – but he said it was no problem at all. Mmm. Now, he doesn’t obviously gloat about my impending departure, but I sense the atmosphere in the room lighten immediately & he’s visage brighten. We touch on Mum & the future, including reassuring Bob that I believe there’s been massive change in the house since I’ve been here – & not all has been negative despite what he might think – & it’s obvious to see that Mum’s issues are now brought on by either stress, lack of food or simply being left on her own with no interaction for too long – so all are easy to address & it really does look so much more promising than when I arrived. He actually agreed, & made noises to the effect that he was fearful he had lost her before I arrived, but is amazed how much better she is. That was nice – heart-warming in fact – as the man never comments on positive things ever. Glad he’s noticed, hope he reacts to the changes & picks up the Susan baton & runs with it . . .
I left to do my chores & returned back around 5.00pm. Nothing – absolutely nothing – went smoothly whilst I was out – but I’ve done all I can. The printers took forever – almost literally; the phone SIM didn’t work properly once I’d tested it; I couldn’t find anything with Iron Man on it for André. Nothing. Oh, hold on, maybe something went smoothly, as I did have a big dirty burger whilst out. I accompanied it with cheesy-chilli fries too – 😬 – well, you know, I do love a burger & I haven’t been very active on that front since my arrival in the home of the ole big dirty burger, so I did indulge myself today. Which was handy, as Bob cooked fish tonight, & well, honestly, despite eating the fish & some of Bob’s newly homemade apple pie I wasn’t bursting, so all good.
Oink.
TV – last ever Jeopardy with Alex Trebek, so poignant – then bed. All good.
Bob couldn’t keep his change of attitude in, as he was considerably nicer in every way after I’d confirmed I’d be leaving soon. It’s to be expected, of course, but shows his true colours & his priorities in life . . .