September 7, 2011

  • The Beast Remembers.....

     

    TALES FROM THE BRAT FARM

    I was a bit shocked today when the Beast brought up the fact that he needed to get a birthday card for AM, his aunt.  She's over 90 now and more vigorous than you would believe.  She has Parkinson's but is on a medication that seems to control it very well.  She doesn't shake like she used to anyway.  Her birthday is on September 11th.  Yeah...THAT date and she hates the fact that it happened on her birthday.  A lot of people will never forget her birthday now and not for the best reason.  BUT....the fact that it was the BEAST that remembered was VERY shocking.

    We were kidding about cards today and how you can buy ones that say things like:  why are you still alive?  Or I hate your guts (those new divorce ones).  Or even:  Am I still in the will?    The Beast is not really sentimental but I told him to remember that AM has always loved him.  She's his father's sister.  The Cousin that was just operated on for bladder cancer tumors is her son.  The Cousin and the Beast have always been close even though the Cousin can be a real idjit at times and tries the Beast's patience.

    So the Beast headed out to get me some cigarette fixings and to also pick up a few odds and ends that I had on my list while he was at Walmart.  Unfortunately, we do not have a Hallmark store around us anywhere.  I'll end up signing it and addressing it so he can put it in the mail tomorrow.  She should get it right on time.  She's the kind of aunt that always seems to remember OUR birthdays but at least this year, I don't have to be the one to go buy the card.  **Grin**

    I was surprised that the Beast only got ME the fixings for my cigarettes.  I looked around and didn't see a whole lot of his stuff except for tubes.  I asked him if he was planning something like quitting and he just said *eventually*.  Oh yeah, like I really believe it of him.  He's tried before.  Hell, he was in the hospital for over a week when he had his stroke and nary a cigarette crossed his lips during that whole time.  He had orders from the doctor not to smoke any more.  I had our friends, who own a duct cleaning company, come out to our house and clean the ducts for us and ordered everyone outside on the pool patio to smoke.  We cleaned the house well (I even hired a gal to come in and help out).  We washed down walls, cleaned windows and frames, washed curtains, cleaned off cabinets and wood furniture well.  I used Febreze on all the furniture and every bedroom had curtains, sheets and bedspreads cleaned so the house had no smell of smoke or tobacco.  I was doing everything I could to help him along and prevent any smoking to lure him back. 

    Know what happened?  On the day he was released from the hospital, while I tended to checking him out, his Cousin whisked him away to the house and had cigarettes ready for him as per the Beast's instructions to him on the phone when he set it up.  He KNEW I wouldn't give him one but I walked into the house and he was sitting on the back patio, smoking.  I was furious!  And very disappointed in him.  He should have been past the intense need and it would have been a cakewalk for him.  **Sigh**

    I have to go take care of Chewlee now so I will ttyl.  Love you all and have a great evening.