Of emergency rooms, night rides, solstices and equinoxes, stars and stones and herbs

[darkemeralds]

Got one of those phone calls last night that you don't really like to get: "Hi, I'm at the hospital."

My sis, avventura1234 took a fall while working and either bruised or broke a rib. She said, "I was being so careful, too, because I know I'm tired."

She's tired because she has to work two jobs to keep a roof over her and her kids' heads. She went to the ED at Emanuel Hospital (her birthplace, and mine, incidentally) because she was in enough pain and fear to overrule her almost complete lack of healthcare coverage.

Upshot: the rib is probably not broken. The owner of the company said he'd pay for everything, which puts her at a significant advantage over a lot of people. Her kids are self-sufficient, I live across the street, and am easily able to help out.

avventura1234 left her phone in the emergency room, so my 17 year old niece and I rode our bikes back over there in the drizzle at 10:30 to get it. It was actually kind of pleasant out on the empty Sunday-night streets.

Today is the first day of summer, but that fact has not been communicated to the skies over the Willamette Valley, which remain pearly gray. It is...mild. Kind of timeless-feeling. Not actually raining today, so that makes a change.

I got word this morning of a an act of solidarity and support from a friend who could little afford to offer it, and I'm feeling very grateful. My sis is much better today, and now all I have to worry about is my appearance as a witness before a grand jury on Thursday.

Comments

[bluemeridian]

The 'upshot' is full of small mercies!

[darkemeralds]

It is indeed! Cause for gratitude at any time, but in these times, I feel extra thankful.

[panisdead]

Yikes. I'm glad she's more or less okay.

[darkemeralds]

Yes, thanks, so am I. She seemed much better today and was sanguine about perhaps getting back to work in a day or two.

[lamentables]

Glad to see the 'upshot'. Blessings on all those who help out. Wishing her a speedy recovery.

now all I have to worry about is my appearance as a witness before a grand jury on Wednesday

That makes you sound - to me - like someone from The West Wing. I'm not sure what the appropriate wishes are, but I hope it isn't painful.

[darkemeralds]

I did that on purpose, because grand jury sounds so...grand. And judicial. I've been subpoenaed as a witness in the trial of the guy who burglarized my house last summer. It feels to me like punishment for reporting a crime!

I expect to have some kind of story to tell afterwards, however.

And my sister rode her bike to work today and said the pain wasn't "too bad". LOL! She's one tough cookie.

[cat63]

Ow! Glad to hear the rib's probably not broken and I hope she mends well.

Good luck with the court thing -it's quite intimidating even when you're on the right side of things, isn't it? We were supposed to go to be witnesses against the person who hit Rob with her trailer last year, but fortunately she pleaded guilty and we didn't have to go after all.

[darkemeralds]

That's it exactly--the sense that somehow, by entering that system, I'm going to be accused of something, or my wrongs will be discovered. In this case, since it's a burglary trial and my house was one of the burglar's crime scenes (and a big old hand print on my window sill was what allowed him to be arrested and charged), I'm afraid that my utter lack of further information will allow him to go free and that I'll somehow be blamed for not doing more to bring a criminal to justice.

That's silly! But it's the worry in my mind.

I'm glad, in your case, that the vehicle driver pleaded guilty. It's so much simpler that way.

[cat63]

That's it exactly--the sense that somehow, by entering that system, I'm going to be accused of something, or my wrongs will be discovered

Yes - it's similar to how even the most law-abiding folks can feel guilty when they see a policeman... I hope it all goes well for you and the burglar gets an appropriate sentence.

[darkemeralds]

Thank you. At a minimum, I do expect to wring a blog post out of it.