Chapter Ten: Another Night - More Restful than Crosswalk Crash Day 1

While I visited with some friends of mine, Carol got Phoebe settled in and ready for bed. I took the time to eat a proper dinner. Paul and I ate in the cafeteria at Wake Med. The food was very good, Paul and I spoke about work and family as we listened to a gentleman play a beautiful grand piano in the cafeteria. I couldn't figure out whether it was planned or spontaneous - either way it was beautiful. Someone put a tip cup out. Unfortunately I didn't have any money. I walked out without sharing any monetary gratitude. I did, however, say thanks. What a pleasant surprise to have a live performance at 8:00 p.m. on a Saturday evening. I got back to the room and Carol and I did some strategic planning. We knew that at least one of us needed to be fresher than we were from the night before and determined that a night in our own bed at the house would be the best remedy. We drew straws (not really) and I believe that I won because I got to stay by Phoebe's bedside. Rita showed me this fancy bed-chair sleeping contraption and got some linens. I want to rest but my mind is still racing so I am going to try to get caught up with e-mails and phone calls. There is still family who has not yet been notified. It's only CC Day +1 but it feels like a week has passed. I am finally able to dig up numbers for my siblings. Everyone is dealing with the recend snow in Pennsylvania. It could have been worse is what I kept hearing about the snow. This statement came back around like a boomarang when I called my sister who is a trauma nurse. About a minute into the conversation, the realization came rushing back about how fortunate we are to have Phoebe with us at this time. One half step, just one half step and she wouldn't have been alive - Becky knows and lives this fact on a day to day basis. Our combined understanding of the divine intervention hung in the air for a few seconds as we both thought of the alternatives. I got back to the room made final arrangements with Carol and settled into bed. Phoebe is resting comfortably. This is wonderful news because she'd not really been able to rest up to this point. This bed-chair thingy is waay cool. After some doing, it unfolded like a Japanese wood puzzle. Each piece accomplished just the right dual purpose, a toe-kick became the foot of the bed, a seat cushion unfolded to become the mattress and another type of cushion completed the head of the bed. Man, I am tired. I can't wait to sleep! Trying to be helpful, I aroused Phoebe to suggest that she use the potty chair. I would work with the nurse to help her. She wanted nothing to do with it. I went to sleep and remembered hearing the nurses come in at 3:00 a.m. to accomplish the mission at hand. From what I understand, Phoebe got out of the bed with only a bit of trouble. She was so modest about the whole process that she handled everything herself. Rita told me that Phoebe made her leave the room - I couldn't help but laugh about the contradiction and irony in this situation. Phoebe being so independent and taking charge of the nurse. Rita was wonderful about respecting Phoebe's decision. I fell back asleep after being semi-aware of what was transpiring. It is now about 6:40 a.m. and I've had an opportunity to get showered and going as the parade of specialists begin their rounds. The shower felt great! There's nothing like a great shower and I've had a few in the course of my life that really hit the mark. This morning's shower was probably number three or four. My number one shower at a marina in the Chesapeake Bay after spending a freezing cold night on a sailboat after nearly losing the boat in a storm squall. I was at the helm as we were blown over from the sudden and massive gust of wind that whipped the boat like a toy in a bathtub. That shower felt awesome! My number two shower ever took place in the Mojave Desert while I was in the Army. I was on temporary duty station at Fort Irwin in the Nevada Desert. My company had just spent a March night out in the freezing cold forming attack skirmishes on American infantry soldiers. As OpFor (Opposition Forces) my company and I were simulating the battle tactics of Soviet troops against the Americans. I learned two things that night that has made me double-think stereotypes from that time forward. I learned that deserts aren't always hot. It was so cold that night that ice formed in our canteens. Number two - there is no precipitation in the desert. This is also false. It snowed almost an inch that night as we were skirmishing against the Americans. As we got back to the baracks early that morning I took a shower that was so hot my skin turned as red as a lobster's. I don't think I ever felt the heat because I, along with everyone else in my company was nearly frozen. This morning's shower ranks right up there. I am so thankful to clean up after two days of sitting and waiting, counting my blessings that I still have my Phoebe.