"H" Is for Hospital

"H" Is for Hospital

"H" is for hospital,

I hate going there,

Even when given,

The very best care!

They give you a gown,

That never stays tied,

And gapes open often,

To expose your backside.

Early each morning,

You suffer great pain,

When the lab tech arrives,

And misses your vein.

It's almost impossible,

To get any rest,

You're constantly bothered,

For some kind of test.

I'm the grouchiest patient,

With the surliest mood,

When I get these infusions,

Instead of real food.

To tell you the truth,

There isn't much worse,

Than being a patient,

When you're also a nurse!!

It really is scary,

To be feeling so sick,

And the road to recovery,

Isn't so quick.

And if that's not enough,

When you're given your bill,

You'll suffer a relapse,

And really feel ill.



Carmen Henesy

Copyright (c)  Carmen Henesy

November 10, 2010

All rights reserved



 

 

A Lot of Catching Up to Do! - October 26, 2015

Well, folks have probably forgotten me after my long silence these past few months!  My India residence had the absolutely worst WiFi connection so I was seldom able to post.  

Besides that, my right shoulder has been insufferably painful and massage did little to relieve the agony.  I didn't get to San Francisco before departure so I was without my usual pain medications -the new Federal law states that you must have prescription in hand from your physician - no more phoning in to your pharmacy.  I can honestly say that Naprosyn does NOT alleviate that joint pain.  My total shoulder replacement is scheduled for November 18th so, thankfully, I should feel better as soon as the day after.  My left shoulder was done two years ago.  Of course, I will need about three months of physical therapy - and it is my right shoulder so I anticipate things will be a bit more difficult post operatively!  I'm trying to practice doing things with my left hand.

I flew from Mumbai to Tampa for a week with Charlene Payton, my dear friend of forty years.  I didn't really have jet lag, I don't think, but with her incredible sleep number bed, I made up for five months on that horrible mattress I had in Mumbai.  Blissful sleep, wonderful company, and great eating readied me for a week in New Orleans and my fifty year Charity Hospital School of Nursing reunion.

I stayed at the home of my friend of fifty years, Martha Meaux Genin.  What a joyful time we all had.  There were so many memories, a few tears, lots of laughs, fabulous food.

Finally, I made it to West Sacramento where I got the warmest welcome ever from my sweet granddaughter, Harper, and the granddogs.  She does not want me out of her sight now and I am being showered with hugs and kisses - when she isn't saying, "Nana, don't touch me!"  She has grown by leaps and bounds and has an incredibly amazing English and Spanish vocabulary for a 2-1/2-year old.

Now that I have really high speed internet, I'll be catching up on India posts and the rest of my world.  While this last stay in India was not my best, I do want to go back.  I can't end my visits to this "country of my heart" on a bad note.

More to come.......

Shadow Shot Sunday 2

Through My Lens Nr. 6 - Making Music in Jaipur - September 11, 2014

This visit to India, I did make it back to Jaipur, my favorite city so far, for a ten day stay.  I was fortunate to live there, once for six months.  I love the colorful city and spent a wonderful evening at a special event with lively music, good food, and colorful saris.

I am participating in Mersad's

Through My Lens Nr. 6

Shadow Shot Sunday 2 - Wilted and Forlorn - August 30, 2015

I feel this way in the Mumbai heat!!

I am participating in

Shadow Shot Sunday 2

Dragon

Cats on Tuesday - Curious and Curiouser - August 18, 2015

Recently, I went over to visit my friends, the Toscanos, with whom I have lived on two of my previous visits to India. They have a menagerie of cats and feed and provide a wealth of love to litters of strays and wounded felines around their compound, even having some spayed in hopes of helping control the cat population.

Their resident cats didn't adore me but tolerated me and provided me, always, with a wealth of photographic opportunities.  One, Eddie, was the nosiest cat I've ever met, always investigating all my purchases, peering into boxes and bags.  I was always afraid that, one of these days, his curiosity would get him into trouble!!!

I had been on a shopping spree at Bandra's famous Bazar Road the day I visited so I was armed with an assortment of bags which Eddie resisted for about a second.  

Hey you, I want to see what's inside here!!!

Let's see...the neck rub might do it!

Maybe I should try to attack this striped bag....

Finally making headway...but my left foot is caught..good thing I have 9 lives!

Eddie gave me a scornful look, finally gave up and, worn out from his efforts, stretched, then took a nap.

I am participating in

Gattina's

Cats on Tuesday

Bits and Pieces - July 31, 2015

Did brave the monsoon rains to have dinner with friends at Saltwater Cafe

I haven't spent any time lately on the computer.  Though I did purchase a "mifi" apparatus from Vodafone with a fairly good internet plan, I've just plain been lazy.  My right shoulder is bothering me so much, sleep, at night, is evasive.  I came to India without my usual pain medication because, at the last minute, I couldn't get down to San Francisco, for my prescription and, with the new U. S. laws, one must get the Rx in hand.  It cannot be called in to a pharmacy.  At least, now, I am really aware of how much the medication helped.  I suppose I could go to a doctor here in Mumbai but I don't want them to think I'm a 70-year-old drug seeking patient 
( even if I am ).  I am taking Aleve twice a day.  I do have a Costco-sized bottle of that with me - not especially good for my ulcer but my beloved friend, Charlene, in Tampa, just sent my 90-day refills of my regular medications.

Monsoon rains have begun again.  It's a bit different from last year. There was a good bit of heavy rain and flooding during my ten day visit to Jaipur, then a dry spell for awhile.  For the last couple of weeks, the rains began anew.  Living high on a hill, the winds are a bit more blustery but we don't really have thunder and lightning.  The clouds dump huge droplets, then we have an hour or two in which to run to the bazar or grab lunch somewhere, then it all starts again.  Rickshaws plow through the water which often flows over the floor and the flapping curtains do little to keep passengers dry.  Traffic comes to a standstill, horns blare, and tempers boil.  Street vendors race to cover their wares, and themselves, for the umpteenth time!

Spices, grains, rice for sale

These spices and grains are so beautiful.  I always wonder about cleanliness as they are exposed to everything - the elements, car exhaust, people handling them, dampness and humidity, etc.  Of course, they are cooked to make the fabulous Indian dishes that always smell so tempting and taste so good.  Just like a Westerner to worry about such things!  Having had a couple of bouts of "Delhi Belly" or "Mumbai Motion" in the past, I do worry from time to time.