I've discovered I can't lie flat on my back—not without my chest (which I now see is visibly and deeply bruised) hurting like hell. So I'm either going to have to buy extra pillows and figure out a sleeping-while-slanted configuration, or I'm going to have to buy whatever the Korean equivalent of a La-Z-Boy is. (Tragic thought, that.)
I thought I was going to spend the last few hours taking a nap, but I instead watched "Hillbilly Elegy" on Netflix via my phone. I'll most likely do a two-fer review of both the book and the movie sometime over the coming days.
The hospital was, as usual, hot as hell; to make up for that, I've got my A/C cranked all the way down to 18ºC, but my studio still feels bizarrely warm. Is something clogging the A/C? We'll find out soon enough. My brother David is sticking with me; Sean and Jeff are leaving for the US tomorrow (Sean was there to help get me through the hardest parts), but David is good with machines in general, and he might be able to help if there really is a problem with the A/C. I'd basically interrupted Sean and Jeff's European vacation, and even though Sean tells me to stop apologizing for getting in the way of life, I do feel bad about interrupting so many lives. I've missed my brothers, but this wasn't how I ever imagined meeting them again.
Righto: gods willing, I'll be out walking a few slow laps around the local park tonight despite the heat, light dizziness, and fatigue. There's plenty to write about my current situation despite my own lack of memory of crucial parts of it, so look forward to more personal posts. Tomorrow, I'll remain at home, but I think my boss and Korean coworker will be paying me a visit—probably sometime in the afternoon. The boss had wanted to come by today, but I was having some, shall we say, bleeding issues (maybe I'll talk about where later), and I had to let those run their course first before entertaining visitors.
Wow, not being able to lie flat on your back sounds truly horrific. As does any type of bleeding...
ReplyDeleteCan't quite imagine what that kind of chest pain feels like. Hopefully, your chest, along with everything else, will heal sooner, rather than later.
Good sign that you were feeling up to watching a movie and look forward to reading your double review.
Also glad you were able to see your brothers, albeit under less than ideal circumstances.
Sometimes, it takes the threat of tragedy to bring out the best in people and bring us together. I look back on my mom's illness as a gift, not a death sentence. One final chance to get things right. One last opportunity to spend time together. Sean is absolutely right. You've got nothing to apologize for.
Perhaps a paradigm shift is in order? You're not getting in the way of your own or anyone else's life because this, too, is life. The good and the bad; the European vacation and the hospitalization. Sure, who among us wouldn't choose a hike in the Swiss alps (on my bucket list after hearing you talk so fondly of your time there) over the labyrinth inpatient halls of Samsung Seoul Hospital?
But what can we do but momentarily chuckle as we stoically accept the trials and tribulations fate hurls towards us? Have at it, cruel indifferent universe, for all of us alive today are destined to meet your inevitable embrace. (And perhaps a few other choice words for good measure...)
Fingers crossed for your evening walk.