I just had this long conversation on the phone with my mother, Frances. I got a really nice letter from her today, and within it was something about how she was going to have heart surgery soon. Then, later in the day, a guy left a message on the answering machine, saying he was her "caregiver" and that she was about to have heart surgery and he thought I might like to talk to her.
So, I called her (for the first time in, I'm just guessing, fifteen years). It was really a trip. I don't want to go into too many personal details, but I love how she talks. She must be the last person on earth who still says, "Dig this," before she gives you a really juicy piece of gossip. In addition to that, instead of saying, "he said," when someone said something, she says, "he claims..." as though anything anyone said were suspect. She's also one of those people who, once they begin a story, you never know quite where it will end up... one of her stories started up being about hispanics who are racist against hispanics, ended up with her wrecking a car on the Bay Bridge, because she said the car was "defective," and the police told her to, "just forget about it." And she had to walk all the way Uptown and thought she was going to die!
The last time they had to put her under for a surgery (to look closely at her heart) she said that when she woke up, they asked her who was president, and she was really tempted to give the wrong answer, just to see what they would do. I think I may have inherited this tendency from her, this desire to give the wrong answer and see what happens. I have to try really hard to suppress it in job interviews. I'm always tempted to confess to some heinous crime about the time someone seems completely set on hiring me. I think I'll blame or credit her, as the job offer warrants. What the heck? Heredity must have something to do with something, right?
So, I hope the surgery goes well. Really. Apparently, she has a faulty heart valve. They may have to put the heart valve of a pig inside of her, but hopefully, they can just repair the one she has. Let's let bygones be bygones and send good vibes to Frances this week.
I remember meeting her at Mel's Drive-in. Remember my dad dropped us off and went to see a movie or something? I will send many good thoughts her way...
ReplyDeleteI do remember! It was nice of you to come with me.
ReplyDelete"They may have to put the heart valve of a pig inside of her..."
ReplyDeleteDid she tell you that? I remember that she always called anyone who worked in law enforcement a pig, including her mother!
I would never wish pain and suffering on anyone, including Frances, but I can't bring myself to wish her well either. I'll leave that to your more compassionate readers.
I assumed she meant the animal, and not the certain type of person whom she refers to as, "pig"! You have to look around at the computers and the cell phones to realize that you're not actually in 1972 when you're listening to her talk.
ReplyDeleteShe's actually checking into the hospital tonight. I talked to her again today. She was feeling dizzy, so they are admitting her a few days early.
I guess I'm forgiving, but pretty cautious, as well.
Frances is a true original-never met anyone like her. I'll never forget her walking through downtown Irwin in her bathing suit. She never cared what anyone thought about her! I hope she does ok.
ReplyDeleteI guess, sometimes, the apple falls just far enough from the tree.
ReplyDeleteWell, Gina, I'll take that as a compliment!
ReplyDeleteShe is now recovering, heart valve successfully mended, no pig parts needed.
ReplyDelete