My first post in nearly a month. The only thing I can think of to write about, is the dysfunctional atmosphere. Fate has brought about circumstances that are beyond our control. A visit by Eddie, the brother-in-law that was supposed to be here for three weeks, is now three months and counting. At least this time they (so far) are self-sufficient. We wound up on this level, due to the mother-in-law taking a turn for the worse during his visit. We now have her on Hospice, just waiting.

My living room, where I would seek quiet and relaxation, is now always filled with four elderly dachshunds, and two human Griswold types, that have no social skills. They sit on opposite sides of the living room, Face Chatting, or whatever they call it, video chatting with their kids or family. I’m sorry, I don’t really care to hear both sides of your conversation over the program I’m trying to watch. I hesitate to say anything, there is so much undercurrent of sadness from the situation of the terminally ill mother.

There are some positive things. The extra female in the house (Eddie’s wife, lets call her Catherine, like the movie) helps take some load off Michelle. Getting up all hours when she hears her mother calling on the baby monitor, has worn her out, so the two women take turns with the monitor duty. I’ve gotten a bathroom floor repaired, a ramp built just before the person it was for, took a turn for the worse. Some leaks stopped by replaced shingles, which were promptly blown off 2 days later along with some siding, by a violent thunderstorm. I’m still not sure, if three repairs in three months is much progress.

Ever met someone that “puts on” as we say in the South. A person who is trying their best to show they are helping, yet at the same time raises the stress level several notches. Eddies wife, likes to take care of “Momma” as she calls her, with the most fake southern twang possible. She spends time in the bedroom of the terminally ill mother-in-law, which is located next to my office. Instead of just talking to her, and going along with the end time delirium the poor woman is going through, Mrs Griswold wants to talk loudly continually correcting her, trying to make sure she gets the point across, that she is imagining things. Why correct a terminally ill person, that is seeing their loved ones again in a delirium. At that moment they are happy, stop smashing the mirror of the moment, and causing more stress. However, I am just short of pulling a Clark Griswold scene from the movie.

So the Griswold Christmas Vacation continues into the new year. There will be no sequel. Next year, there will be a prominent “No vacancy” sign on this home.

Comments welcome,
Where’s the Tylenol..