The ferry dock in Bridgeport, Connecticut was drab. Utility depots, power transfer stations, grey buildings in need of paint. Signs prohibiting photography in the area gave me the creeps.
And then the dumb shit people — so many running around with masks under their noses! Then there are the shiny blondes at the wheels of giant, shiny SUVs idling for the entire wait to board (what else is new?)
We scraped off our Warren bumper sticker before hitting the road. Long Island is hostile territory.
The ferry wasn’t very crowded but crowded enough for me to think it probable that at least one person on board had covid19.
Ugly kept going on the Stonybrook Medical Campus. I gasped to see what had to be one of the ugliest buildings in the northeast (and I went to UMass, Amherst!)
Visiting is restricted both because of Covid and the ICU protocols. We are being accorded professional courtesy since my brother works here but there are still hurdles to clear.
On entry, they take your temperature, ask a few basic health questions, and demand to know where you’ve been. Thank god Massachusetts is an acceptable point of origin. They give you a sticker.
Then you have to be cleared by a skeptical visitor clerk. Who are you? You know visiting doesn’t start for five more hours? You know only one can go up at a time? This basically requires that one of my brother’s doctor-friends comes and provides an escort up to the eighth floor.
The only health update is this: scans show the bleed unchanged. Very good news, I’m told.
So many people streaming by to say hello. This morning an ED fellow (who honestly looked about 12) paid his respects. Everyone is so nice. So unbelievably nice. My brother is beloved in ED circles (unless you’re one of a handful that reviles him) and on both coasts.
I’m glad he missed the debates. Seriously, he might’ve had another stroke. I feel lucky that I didn’t have a stroke! Even though K and I were in a Hilton, I yelled and yelled at the TV, mostly along the lines of : SHUT HIM UP. We lasted an hour and that was waaaaay too long.
Thank you for all your loving and supportive comments yesterday! Lifesavers come in many forms.
Dee, I am holding you, your family and all health care providers in love and light. I am very familiar with the journey of a stroke; one of my younger brothers had a severe stroke three years ago and I walked every step with him.
I am with you every day, dear friend.🙏🥰
You are a dear, Kristen. Thank you. Glad your brother had you for his recovery.
Such a gloomy, gray reflection of these days. I’m glad you’ve been able to see him and his condition is stable. Big blessings to be sure.
I thought of you a lot as I watched, wondering if you were watching, knowing you’d be going nuts. I kept yelling, cut his mic! The bullying was especially hard to watch. Sigh.
Anyway, I like that your lifesaver looks very peace symbol like. May we head in that direction and be saved and safe.
Thanks for updating here, I’ve been thinking of you.
I didn’t see the peace sign until you pointed it out!
Holding all yours as close as possible. I’m glad there is some good news about the state of the bleed.
See you on twitter and wherever else I can be for you.
Today showed progress.
Wonderful to read he’s in such a truly caring environment. And, Holy Crap! I thought that was a picture of the ATL federal prison! It’s a wonder LI doesn’t sink under it’s freight if wretchedness.
I watched a few minute until he spewed china PLAGUE. I opened the kitchen window and screamed obscenities into the dark, then turned it off.
I love the image of you yelling into the Southern dark.
(((Dee)))
Thanks, Mo.
Husband lasted 15 minutes- Gave up and watched law and order with me.
I can just FEEL the love and kindness around your brother. That has to help.
The support and love and kindness is really something.
Watching a crime procedural was a good choice.
with you all the way …
Thanks Liz.
That building is shockingly ugly. Self-consciously desolate. I wish you had a more soothing trip, but I’m glad the news was good when you arrived. I am keeping my fingers crossed for quick improvement.
The debate was so bad it might be good. Who could vote for such a babbling blowhard excuse for a human being?
I learned that the architect later committed suicide. It did not surprise me.
So good that your brother is getting such good care – and that it’s bundled with so much love for him personally.
I refused to watch the debate, and my husband recorded it so he could watch it in small increments. Supposedly that made it more tolerable. I’m glad I jumped in the sauna streaming Nawang Khechog’s Quiet Mind instead.
It’s not all that much more readily tolerated in small sound bites. Such a toxic human being.
At daybreak, the sky did it’s usual color dance but for a few seconds, there was a soft golden color and I thought, let this golden color surround Dee’s brother, herself and her family…even if you can only be with him for a few moments, it is so good that you can. It is excruciating to have a loved one hospitalized and not be able to be by their side due to Covid.
Used to love watching debates, was on the debate team in college but in no way am I willing to subject myself to what I knew would be a sh.t storm! So this morning I read analysis…saw a few clips and thought, how I wish that it all would end, that Biden would not engage anymore with this evil, moronic soulless, heartless abomination…
This was part of the Covid epicenter not all that long ago. Thankfully with careful steps and masks we can be here.
Love the description of the dawn. Thank you for that.
Holding you all in my prayers … hoping everyday shows improvement.
Thank you, Tina. Appreciate it.
I know your brother will pull though this. We Mallon’s are tough nuts, tenacious, and have a remarkable ability to bounce back. I’m here if you guys need anything.
It does my heart good to know and see (here) that there are so many folks in the blogosphere against this turd Trump. Here in my meadow more and more MAGA signs are popping up and it gets me sick. LI has klan, white supremacists, racists and way too many Republicans. Hell the middle school was just busted last week for a kiddie fight club on Instagram. I have a feeling some of my neighbors were involved. Raising and training the next generation of “proud boys” ugh!!
And yes SB is ugly. But the nature and beauty of West Meadow Beach can cure that. I hope you get there to decompress. The ocean beaches are a great place to go to, to relax and are not far at all. Or come here. Door is always open
You make me laugh. The only two words B has managed to utter in the last forty eight hours are NO and FUCK. Sound Mallon enough?!
Thank you for your offers of hospitality and for directions to the beach. We go hour by hour right now.
Here, sending more thoughts and hopes.
Hi Dee – have been unable to comment though I keep trying. Holding respite and rejuvenation energetic thoughts and other vibey things.
I hope WordPress doesn’t go the way of typepad. Enough challenges for the fucking year!
FOR THE NEXT POST:
Oh Dee, I’m so glad he’s made progress! That is great news. I love your big blue ~ wide open, hopeful skies. The two together must be a spirit lifter, well, if you don’t watch the news.
Sending love to you and your family. xo
PS Comment box wouldn’t come up with the spaces for my info on your next post.
Thanks Nancy. I’ll have to see what’s going on with comments.