"I like being out of the hospital" (Nadine)

At 3PM Friday June 26th, Erek and I loaded Nadine's stuff into the huge, picturesque wooden wagon brought by Nurse Denise, and Nadine left the hospital for her 3-day "break", amidst goodbyes to the friends she had made among nurses, staff, and families. And off we went into the sunny day.

First we went to Ronald MacDonald House, where I gave her the "tour" of the spacious lovely lounges and halls, the well-stocked kitchen, the beautiful wooden outdoor deck, the woods, our sun-drenched room. The doctors had approved the "run of the place" although she had to mask when other people were there unless outside.

She sat on the deck, and after sitting with her I experienced, finally, the urge to play the piano, and play I did. Chopin, Beethoven, improvisations, tumbled out. A month of almost no music, then a flood as soon as she left the hospital. I had played once, and it had felt awkward and halting -- I had barely remembered the Chopin nocturne I'd known like the back of my hand. Now the music had returned along with Nadine.

Nadine was hungry, and wanted to try Paola's, the nearby Mexican restaurant Erek had gone to. We bundled into the car, and as we drove along the tree-lined street Nadine announced, "I LIKE BEING OUT OF THE HOSPITAL". Nadine got to enjoy sitting at a booth with us, and ordered a burrito and horchata-- she still had to "hold" the lettuce, but was a good sport and thoroughly enjoyed the meal. It all felt like a feast.

We returned to the house to find my friend Sue Klassen there, offering one of her long, warm hugs. And there was Barry, Nadine's dad, a smile in his eyes. Nadine and Barry happily hauled off to the outdoor deck.

At about 7PM we all lounged in our room. I was lying on the bed when and someone suggested a game of Settlers of Catan, my favorite game. Delighted, I closed my eyes. When I opened them, everyone was gone. About 2 hours had gone by! My exhaustion had finally caught up with me. Laughing ruefully, I left the room to find Erek, Barry and Nadine busily doing a 1000-piece puzzle on the table in the second floor lounge. All was well.

At 10, Barry Nadine and Erek loaded themselves into Barry's gorgeous little black 1982 Cabriolet convertible (top down) and away they went to pick up Kate, Erek's sweetheart at the airport.

As for me, I went to bed. I briefly got up to welcome Kate, and turned in for the night. I wondered if the rest of them would wake me when they came in, but the next thing I knew it was morning.
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On Saturday morning I opened my eyes and looked at beautiful Nadine, lying comfortably on the bed across from me. Erek and Kate were next to me on the air mattress, and Barry was on the bed on the other side. The sun poured through the window. Contentment.

Eventually everyone got up, for a leisurely morning, breakfast, no place to go, no hospital rounds to catch up to. I went back to bed again, still exhausted. I got up to find Nadine on the back deck eating a bagel with cream cheese -- what a luxury to have an ordinary week-end day.

The week-end visiting nurse called and came to check Nadine's dressing. She wasn't our favorite, but she isn't our "regular" nurse and we don't have to see her again. Our "regular" nurse was recommended by a new friend (introduced by Diana), whose teen-aged son was diagnosed with leukemia a year ago, and I trust her judgment. This will be a 2-year relationship.

After relaxing, Nadine wanted to go to Goodwill -- she had lost weight and anyway it was summer and time for her to feel comfy in feel and looks. Barry helped me clear out my embarrassingly messy, overstuffed car, and away the five of us went. Nadine's bearing in the store was that of a happy teen on a shopping spree as she professionally sifted through racks of random clothing, expertly picking out tank tops, cargo pants, and shorts -- after try-ons, she exclaimed she'd found the best cargo pants ever, fell in love with a red tank shirt, and finished off proudly with a glorious orange and white tie-dyed tank top. Nadine proudly wore her head "au natural", looking regal and model-like. Even her mask was no deterrent to her beauty and grace.

As for me, I indulged in a bright sunny-colored cloth purse (I usually use black ones) and found a nice twirly denim skirt for contra dancing. My self-indulgence cost me about 9 dollars, a fair price for wearing my own celebration.

Afterwards, it was back to the Mexican restaurant, this time all five of us, for a rowdy and fun dinner, at which Nadine happiily devoured another burrito plate.

At the house, we finally got to play a family favorite game, Settlers of Catan (my all-time favorite), a European board game where the "board" rearranges itself. There were the classic machinations and intrigues -- Nadine won handily.

We took a long walk after dark, when Nadine no longer had to "cover up" (her medication made her extra sun-sensitive). Nadine walked through the woods, the soft earth under her feet (I loved the feel of it too), and down to a paved path along the Erie Canal, where we walked and walked. Nadine had a brisk pace, and at one point she held my hand. For most of the walk, thought, she stayed with Erek and Kate, who were hand in hand -- Barry and I held hands behind them. I had brought the cell phone (in case there was an emergency) but turned it off so no one would be disturbed. Energized, we kept going past the house -- I could faintly hear the "kids'" tinkly conversation.

And then -- the house, and bed for me. Barry and Nadine stayed up late. I fretted a bit about Nadine, then relaxed -- after all, she's always been a "night owl".

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