What a tiring week it's been. I'm feeling physically and emotionally wrung out.
I took down the posts about the death of my friend's baby because I couldn't bear to see them anymore when I looked at my blog. The funeral will be this weekend.
The long delay is due to waiting on the pathologist to release the body after doing an autopsy. Even though I haven't had a day off since Tuesday of last week, I've spent all of my free time before and after work either sitting with my friend and her family, or checking in with them and offering to run errands, pick up food, etc. At some point before she goes back to work (which won't be for at least 6 weeks) I'm going to take some vacation days and we're going to go somewhere together. Maybe the beach, or Charleston, or wherever sounds good to her. When I suggested a girlfriend getaway to her she said that it sounded wonderful. Getting away for a few days might help her. And Gregg has invited her husband to go do some guy stuff one day next week after the funeral is behind them.
As for me, I'm finally off tomorrow and I plan to spend the day getting some much needed rest. It's been the most tiring week I can remember having in a long, long time.
What a week you have had.Your plan sounds nice.
ReplyDeleteWhen I came home we had lots of cold foods or freezer food but being so tired we ate sandwiches a lot. We were always at hospital. So having something really warm and ready to eat was a treat. The family is just so tired mind and body.
Take care of yourself too, have a good rest.
cheers, parsnip
Thank you. I've picked up some ready-made food a couple of times and taken it to their house. I plan to make some homemade meals for them next week after all the other friends and family members are gone. Bringing food is the one thing I can do to feel somewhat useful. I've mostly felt helpless during this while situation.
DeleteYou are a good friend. This is something your friend will always hold close to her heart, that you cared when she needed someone to care. I hope you have a relaxing day tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteThank you. I love Marla, and her husband, and I was ready to love and spoil their daughter. Good friends are the family we choose, aren't they?
DeleteYes, they most certainly are. Good friends sustain us.
DeleteYou have been a brilliant friend to Marla at such a trying time Jennifer. No matter where she goes she will never get over Alice's death but life goes on and your idea of a little trip with Marla will help her to move forward. In addition, it sounds like you also need a leisurely break. By the way, what is "guy stuff"?
ReplyDeleteThanks, YP. Guy stuff will involve going out to a friend's house in the country and getting in some target practice. Neither of them are hunters, but they like to take rifles out and practice marksmanship. Even I enjoy shooting .22 rifles (at targets, not living creatures ).
DeleteGulp! In England guy stuff would definitely not involve guns. We look across the Atlantic and feel horrified by America's gun culture. Guy stuff here would probably involve beer and football. No guns. Personally, I hate them. Does that make me a hippy?
DeleteWe're horrified by the gun culture, too. I hesitated to say anything because I knew my friends in Europe might misunderstand. I'm talking about skeet (not sure I spelled that right) shooting and shooting at targets with relatively harmless .22 rifles. I understand your horror of guns, and when it comes to handguns, I share it. Gregg is not a macho, gun loving guy by ANY stretch of the imagination. And he doesn't drink beer or watch football.
DeleteWhen I noticed the post with the photo was gone, I thought your friends had asked you to take it down because maybe they didn't want to be on display. But I understand very well you couldn't bear looking at the picture anymore. It even gave my heart a little sting every time I saw it, and I don't know any of the people involved.
ReplyDeleteA very good idea to go away with Marla for a few days. It will no doubt help. Also, going back to work will help, even though maybe at the moment she can not imagine it.
Why the autopsy? I thought the cause of poor little Alice's death was known.
No, they still have no idea what happened. They only know that her kidneys never started to work. They need to know if there was an undiagnosed genetic problem.
DeleteI've just read your comment on John's Going Gently. I'm so very sorry to hear the tragic news about little Alice. Please pass on my deepest condolences to your friends.
ReplyDelete