So I'm back. Been back for a little while, actually, but until recently I've been pretty much drained and exhausted from the events of the past month.
Here's the deal: my dad got really sick. The doctors didn't really know what was going on, but they thought it was related to something that almost killed him twice about 4 years ago. They operated, found the problem and fixed it, and he seemed to be doing okay. Then he went straight down hill. He was completely delirious for a few days, running a 104+ fever, unable to eat or drink anything...
I should mention that my parents are funeral directors and own 2 small, rural funeral homes...so while all f this is happening, my mom is having to run the business by herself and had run herself ragged. So she called and asked me to come down for a while to help. I haven't been a funeral director in a long time, and there are many reasons why I didn't want to go back, but I couldn't say no to her, especially after hearing how worried she was about dad. So its been a few weeks of 5-6 hour train trips from Chicago to their home...and I hate their home. Lots of cows and gas stations in that town, not much else unless you count the abandoned grocery store. With all the stress and poor diet I've lost about 10 pounds and look pretty ghastly right now. My dad's doing a lot better, still having problems moving around, but he had me buy him a Playstation 2 and a wireless controller, so now he can just lay in bed and play WWII shooters until he fully recovers. Going to have to make a couple of more trips in the next few months, but I'm staying put in my apartment for Christmas...just me and a salisbury steak TV dinner and my one-eared cat. (Sadly, my other cat, Six, ran away last week.)
The bright side to all of this is that my dad is being forced to retire and sell the funeral homes. The doctors told him he can't do any more heavy lifting. Ever. But luckily he's selling the business to a friend of his, so it will be in good hands. My parents plan to rent an RV, fill it with their 4 yapping little dogs, and see the country for a couple of years and then relocate in Alabama. Which means in 4 months, I will never have to see the town I grew up in ever again. I am a happy lad.
Wait...
That means I'll have to visit them in Alabama.
Shit.
Here's the deal: my dad got really sick. The doctors didn't really know what was going on, but they thought it was related to something that almost killed him twice about 4 years ago. They operated, found the problem and fixed it, and he seemed to be doing okay. Then he went straight down hill. He was completely delirious for a few days, running a 104+ fever, unable to eat or drink anything...
I should mention that my parents are funeral directors and own 2 small, rural funeral homes...so while all f this is happening, my mom is having to run the business by herself and had run herself ragged. So she called and asked me to come down for a while to help. I haven't been a funeral director in a long time, and there are many reasons why I didn't want to go back, but I couldn't say no to her, especially after hearing how worried she was about dad. So its been a few weeks of 5-6 hour train trips from Chicago to their home...and I hate their home. Lots of cows and gas stations in that town, not much else unless you count the abandoned grocery store. With all the stress and poor diet I've lost about 10 pounds and look pretty ghastly right now. My dad's doing a lot better, still having problems moving around, but he had me buy him a Playstation 2 and a wireless controller, so now he can just lay in bed and play WWII shooters until he fully recovers. Going to have to make a couple of more trips in the next few months, but I'm staying put in my apartment for Christmas...just me and a salisbury steak TV dinner and my one-eared cat. (Sadly, my other cat, Six, ran away last week.)
The bright side to all of this is that my dad is being forced to retire and sell the funeral homes. The doctors told him he can't do any more heavy lifting. Ever. But luckily he's selling the business to a friend of his, so it will be in good hands. My parents plan to rent an RV, fill it with their 4 yapping little dogs, and see the country for a couple of years and then relocate in Alabama. Which means in 4 months, I will never have to see the town I grew up in ever again. I am a happy lad.
Wait...
That means I'll have to visit them in Alabama.
Shit.
VIEW 6 of 6 COMMENTS
that would be thugged.
So if you want, you can stop by Italyland on your way to Alabama.