Today's been a very rough day. My Mate took the bus to work and like most days while Neeper has been here, I returned home and started answering email and checking the to do items I had for the day.
My Mate Beeped* me, like always, when he stepped off the bus, but asked me to call him back instead of just using the radio.
The conversation went some like this:
Lesa~Dragon: Hi Dub**, what's up?
My Mate: I had a call from Mouse while I was on the bus.
Lesa~Dragon: Uh-oh, is everything ok?
My Mate: She said My Mother is dead.
Dragon: What?
Mate: My Mother is dead.
Dragon: How? When?
Mate: I guess she was having trouble breathing last night and went to the hospital. The Doctor called this morning and told Mouse she died in the night.
Dragon: Oh My God! No.
Mate: Yeah.
Dragon: Where are you? I'll come pick you up.
Mate: On the street. Yes, please.
Dragon: Ok, go to the office, and let them know what happened, and I'll be there to pick you up as soon as I can. I'll call when I'm close.
Mate: Yea, I'll go pick up the van first, then go into work.
Dragon: I'm on my way, be there as soon as I can.
Mate: Ok.
Dragon: Dub?
Mate: Yes, Dub?
Dragon: I Love You.
Mate: Thanks. Come get me.
Dragon: On my way.
JEast was gone? I was stunned,and turned circles for at least a full minute trying to decide if I should change out of my PJ's or just go. I went down the hall to brush the sleep out of my hair and pull it back, when my Roomie cracked open her door and asked if everything was alright. Apparently she heard my exclamations and was curious, thinking there was a new Neeper development. I told her as quickly and quietly as I could, Neeper's bedroom is right next door, and then dashed off to the city to pick up My Mate.
I called my Mom (as yet not nicknamed) on the way, and left a message on her cell phone. I asked her not to call back after a certain time, sure I'd have My Mate in the car with me, but when she called back I was still in traffic. I BAWLED while driving on I-5, talking to my Mom about My Mate's loss, our loss really, and trying to explain all the things that have happened with the Neeper over the last couple years. She didn't have any idea how Springer like things had been. I don't know if we will have the $ to send My Mate and Neeper back for a service, and if I had to tap into the International Bank of Dragon's Mom and Dad - I figured they needed to know ASAP.
Then I called a Co-worker in LittleApples and told him I had to cancel our weekly Power Hour meeting. He was very understanding and offered any assistance needed. He's a great guy.
I called My Mate when I was close, and picked him up near a local bar he has been to after work a couple times. Seems they're not open at 8 AM, go figure. We returned home in relative silence, and then he called Mouse back for more details and to check on how Grumpy took the news.
I just can't believe she's gone. It's not sunk in yet, and I don't know how long it will take before the hurt goes away, but it hurts really bad. There is a hole, a huge black hole inside both of us that will take much healing time to find the light again.
When Neeper wakes up, we'll have to break the news to her. Damn this won't be easy. Crap, I have a meeting I have to prepare for.. I just wish I could send someone else.
More update later, maybe, maybe not.
* Beep is the radio function on Nextel Phones
** We call each other Dub, like Silk Stalkings detectives called each other "Sam" - it's a long explaination.. someday I'll tell that story perhaps.
Wednesday, July 05, 2006
Tuesday, July 04, 2006
Mom Again?
Or so it would appear... not that I'm complaining but it's just different.
My kids are now grown, graduated and gettin' on my nerves. (not really but sometimes) My Mate has a 9 year old daughter ~ "Neeper" ~ and she's come to stay with us for the summer the second weekend in June.
About two weeks after Neeper arrived, we received a call from her mom ~ "Valkyrie" ~ stating that the boyfiend ~ "Mr. Peabody" ~ had missed work, and was drunk and passed out naked on the living room floor. Valkyrie didn't want to have Neeper in the house with Mr. Peabody doing stuff like that, and suggested perhaps Neeper should stay with us longer than the summer. It seems Mr. Peabody has some dependency issues, and has been known to relieve himself throughout the house, not always in the bathroom. My Mate and I agreed it would be best that Neeper stay with us.
A few days later Neeper received an email from her mom saying that Mr. Peabody was being good again and they were acting loving again to each other. A couple days after that, Neeper told My Mate that she didn't want to go back and live with her mom, and then she told her mom the same thing during a phone call. Next think I know Neeper is crying because Valkyrie has told her she HAS to come home and that's just the way it is.
Additional informatoin that may fill in holes later on: Valkyrie was arrested in May for assalt, seem she used the flat edge of a knife on Mr. Peabody, the cops were called, and Valkyrie spent a few nights in jail. During the time she was locked up, Mr. Peabody was calling My Mate and asking what he intended to do, then saying he needed to 'be a man' and then demanding that Mr. Peabody be allowed to adopt Neeper. Uh.. HELL NO. We had thougt at that time that we may have to go out early and pick up Neeper, but we were able to let her finish the school year in MD.
Also, some time last year, Valkyrie took a baseball bat to Mr. Peabody - and the cops were called then too but I dont' think there was any jail time. They have a volitale relationship and there have been times when Neeper has called My Mate because her mom is drunk and nasty and Neeper just wants to be away from the house. At those times, she'd figure out how to make it to My Mate's Rents house for a couple days, until things settled down. It's tough for us to do anything about it, as My Mate's family lives in Maryland - nearly 2700 miles from Seattle.
It's been tough this year for the Mate-Rents too, Mom ~ "JEast" ~ has been having Kemo treatments since April for her lungs, and Dad ~ "Grumpy" ~ had his left leg amputated at the knee in early May and then a quintuple (5) by-pass heart surgery in the beginning of June. Since Grumpy has been unable to drive, and really in the hosipital or extended care for those two months (and still), Neeper has to less options for leaving the house when things grow too tense with Valkyrie and Mr. Peabody. To make things in MD even more like a Springer show, My Mates Sister ~ "Mouse" ~ her husband ~ "Saint" ~ and their family (5 kids total though not all of them live at home right now) have been forced to move from the house they've been in for over 12 years, because it's being sold and they can't afford what is being asked for it. (too much by the way, if you ask me) So Mouse and the three youngest kids ("BonBon" ~ age 9, Neepers best friend, "Thomas" ~ Age 5?(I think) and "Nate" ~ Age 13) are moving in with the Mate-Rents, while Saint is going to stay with his parents near by for the time being. The oldest is living with his other grandparents out of state and "Coyote" has been hanging out at the Mate-Rents off and on for the last 9 months - mooching.
This is not the worst thing that could happen, with Grumpy in the hospital still and JEast doesn't drive, but it's a small house, and the Mate-Rents have been sans little kids 24/7 for a lot longer than I have.
Back to the present ~ Last weekend, Valkyrie called, very in her cups (read: drunk), and a conversation with My Mate started out that maybe it would be best for Neeper to say with us. In the course of the 10 minute conversation, though she did a 180 and ended the call with "If Neeper is not back in MD by August 1st, I'm calling an Alphabet Goverment Agency, and reporting a Neeper-napping." to which My Mate replied, "Thanks for the warning."
Today - July 4th, Neeper was chatting with Valkyrie and again the subject of the return trip to MD was brought up, which sent Neeper into tears again. Poor thing! And of course, we were at the Dragon-Rents place with my family, so then others wanted to know "What was up?" Thankfully it was easy enough to say that she'd just had a disagreement with her mom on the phone and leave it at that.
We don't know what is going to happen from one day to the next, but at this point, we are not planning to send Neeper back to MD until we've talked with someone familiar with family law. There reasons too numerous to count why she should not return, and one really important reason she should stay ~ because it is what is best for her!
More Neeper Saga updates later as the story developes - Happy Fourth All!
My kids are now grown, graduated and gettin' on my nerves. (not really but sometimes) My Mate has a 9 year old daughter ~ "Neeper" ~ and she's come to stay with us for the summer the second weekend in June.
About two weeks after Neeper arrived, we received a call from her mom ~ "Valkyrie" ~ stating that the boyfiend ~ "Mr. Peabody" ~ had missed work, and was drunk and passed out naked on the living room floor. Valkyrie didn't want to have Neeper in the house with Mr. Peabody doing stuff like that, and suggested perhaps Neeper should stay with us longer than the summer. It seems Mr. Peabody has some dependency issues, and has been known to relieve himself throughout the house, not always in the bathroom. My Mate and I agreed it would be best that Neeper stay with us.
A few days later Neeper received an email from her mom saying that Mr. Peabody was being good again and they were acting loving again to each other. A couple days after that, Neeper told My Mate that she didn't want to go back and live with her mom, and then she told her mom the same thing during a phone call. Next think I know Neeper is crying because Valkyrie has told her she HAS to come home and that's just the way it is.
Additional informatoin that may fill in holes later on: Valkyrie was arrested in May for assalt, seem she used the flat edge of a knife on Mr. Peabody, the cops were called, and Valkyrie spent a few nights in jail. During the time she was locked up, Mr. Peabody was calling My Mate and asking what he intended to do, then saying he needed to 'be a man' and then demanding that Mr. Peabody be allowed to adopt Neeper. Uh.. HELL NO. We had thougt at that time that we may have to go out early and pick up Neeper, but we were able to let her finish the school year in MD.
Also, some time last year, Valkyrie took a baseball bat to Mr. Peabody - and the cops were called then too but I dont' think there was any jail time. They have a volitale relationship and there have been times when Neeper has called My Mate because her mom is drunk and nasty and Neeper just wants to be away from the house. At those times, she'd figure out how to make it to My Mate's Rents house for a couple days, until things settled down. It's tough for us to do anything about it, as My Mate's family lives in Maryland - nearly 2700 miles from Seattle.
It's been tough this year for the Mate-Rents too, Mom ~ "JEast" ~ has been having Kemo treatments since April for her lungs, and Dad ~ "Grumpy" ~ had his left leg amputated at the knee in early May and then a quintuple (5) by-pass heart surgery in the beginning of June. Since Grumpy has been unable to drive, and really in the hosipital or extended care for those two months (and still), Neeper has to less options for leaving the house when things grow too tense with Valkyrie and Mr. Peabody. To make things in MD even more like a Springer show, My Mates Sister ~ "Mouse" ~ her husband ~ "Saint" ~ and their family (5 kids total though not all of them live at home right now) have been forced to move from the house they've been in for over 12 years, because it's being sold and they can't afford what is being asked for it. (too much by the way, if you ask me) So Mouse and the three youngest kids ("BonBon" ~ age 9, Neepers best friend, "Thomas" ~ Age 5?(I think) and "Nate" ~ Age 13) are moving in with the Mate-Rents, while Saint is going to stay with his parents near by for the time being. The oldest is living with his other grandparents out of state and "Coyote" has been hanging out at the Mate-Rents off and on for the last 9 months - mooching.
This is not the worst thing that could happen, with Grumpy in the hospital still and JEast doesn't drive, but it's a small house, and the Mate-Rents have been sans little kids 24/7 for a lot longer than I have.
Back to the present ~ Last weekend, Valkyrie called, very in her cups (read: drunk), and a conversation with My Mate started out that maybe it would be best for Neeper to say with us. In the course of the 10 minute conversation, though she did a 180 and ended the call with "If Neeper is not back in MD by August 1st, I'm calling an Alphabet Goverment Agency, and reporting a Neeper-napping." to which My Mate replied, "Thanks for the warning."
Today - July 4th, Neeper was chatting with Valkyrie and again the subject of the return trip to MD was brought up, which sent Neeper into tears again. Poor thing! And of course, we were at the Dragon-Rents place with my family, so then others wanted to know "What was up?" Thankfully it was easy enough to say that she'd just had a disagreement with her mom on the phone and leave it at that.
We don't know what is going to happen from one day to the next, but at this point, we are not planning to send Neeper back to MD until we've talked with someone familiar with family law. There reasons too numerous to count why she should not return, and one really important reason she should stay ~ because it is what is best for her!
More Neeper Saga updates later as the story developes - Happy Fourth All!
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