Caraway Carter

Shelter in Place Day 109
“Who lives, who dies, who tells your story.” — Hamilton

We stayed up to watch the release of Hamilton and I’m not ashamed I did it. I did have to remind The Husbear that it was 1 am and 130 am and 2 am because he was singing along with the musical. Even now after he’s apologized, I’ve apologized saying, “I don’t know if they were watching it above or below us.

OMG! It’s amazing! Oh My God! I’m blown away!

I ugly cried that last third of the musical, the staging was mind-blowing, the costumes were awesome and I don’t have the words for this masterpiece of a show.

After every show we watch or Musical we listen to, the Husbear always asks who I’d want to play if I could be cast. Tonight he asked, and I said. King George, of course. I didn’t even know he was in it as much as he was.
After it was over, and as I write this, I’m on a musical drop. I want more of it and I’m excited that I can watch it anytime. I look forward to the watch parties where we can tweet about it or Facebook it or live chat with each other over this song or that.

I’d heard about the staging that takes place during Helpless and Satisfied, but seeing it happen in front of me was stunning. I’d love to see it on stage, with a touring company, because I’ve seen it with the original cast, I think I can watch it again with different performers.

Hearing it on Spotify doesn’t prepare you for the entirety of the show. The staging and the choreography and the costumes and the show would be nothing without that ensemble cast. The energy, the love, the longing, the care for each song sung, and action is taken are breathtaking.

Another thing that blew me away were the actors who played dual roles. You don’t hear much about Jasmine Cephas Jones who played Peggy/Maria. She’s the sweet innocent young Schuyler sister in the first act and the temptress in second. The only other one that gets to kiss Hamilton, except for maybe in the eyes of Laurens. [Word on the street is that Laurens and Hamilton were lovers too.]

The fact that it’s on whenever I want to watch it, is wonderful. I want to sit on the floor in front of the screen like I used to do when I’d watch cartoons as a kid. I want to immerse myself in all of those fantastic voices and learn what brilliance I can glean from the show. I can’t sing it’s praises enough.

If you’ve got Disney+, take the time to watch the show. You don’t have to have heard the soundtrack to fall in love with the cadence and pomp. It’s maybe not everyone’s cup of tea, but take a chance on it. It’s history made real, it’s a story told through the eyes of our people. It’s one man’s rise and fall and I swear everyone will be affected by the story.

Did you watch the midnight or three am show, depending on where you live?

Shelter in Place Day 108

Thank you, everyone! She’s coming home. Four days of antibiotics pumping into her and oxygen and they are letting her leave the hospital in an hour. It’s been an interesting four days for me. Spending the days with my dad, watching television, and taking naps.

My mom is an amazing, strong woman. Full of humor and faith, she knew she’d win the battle with pneumonia. The big fear was that she had COVID, she beat herself up for going shopping at Big Lots! But, she has always been safe. Wore gloves and a face mask everywhere she went.

After my dad’s heart attack a year and a half ago, she stepped up and took care of everything. She drove everywhere, took care of my dad, and got over a lot of fears she used to have. I swear driving was the biggest hurdle for her, a woman who was used to driving a block to where she worked or shopped. In the past year, she’s driven to Oceanside a few times, which from San Dimas, is quite far.

I’ve learned a lot about life from my mom. I’ve learned compassion and faith and humor and love. And now I’ve learned patience too. I’m impressed with her every day, and it’s been hard in her shoes, my feet are larger. I’m kidding about that, but what she does and how she’s handled things, she’s my hero.

My beautiful, amazing mom will be home soon. I know she’s got a direct connection to God, but I also know that so many of you prayed and thought of her in all your ways. And I thank you and my dad and Husbear thank you too.

How are you going to celebrate my mom coming home?

Shelter in Place Day 107

She’s negative! Part of the reason she hadn’t been given a room was that they didn’t want to put her in the general hospital population if she was positive. But, they told her tonight that she was getting a room soon.

Thank you from everyone who prayed, lit candles did whatever it is or was that you did. I sometimes think my mom has a direct link to God. She’s a strong woman, and I know I sound crazy when I say this, but thank God she’s got Pneumonia.

She’s going to be there a couple more days, that means I’ll be in San Dimas with my dad, but we’re doing fine. And knowing she’s negative we’ll be doing much better. I don’t have many other words to say than thank you.

Thank you friends and family everywhere for your thoughts and prayers.

Shelter in Place Day 106

There is this new DSW Shoe Warehouse commercial I’ve seen a couple of times that shows the employees wearing masks, but then they pull them down beneath their chins to talk. And it shows customers with masks below their chins too. One child even shouts, “Yes!” 

It’s commercials like this that perpetuate the idea that masks aren’t necessary while shopping. But, if that child was sick, and she shouted, the droplets would move fast and far. I know we are unfamiliar territory, but less is more. There is a commercial for Ikea that probably has a new voiceover to it. “What will be the first thing you’ll be able to do… We’ve found that you can’t wait to welcome people back to your home…” 

Commercials don’t need to give a false sense that a store cares by having employees with masks on, but removed to talk. Yesterday, I kept having to tell my dad to leave his mask on to talk. It’s just a piece of cloth over your mouth. People can hear you speak. And when customers are in a store in a commercial with masks not worn properly. I mean I understand the reason they pulled the mask down, but maybe just the customers should have worn them?

I dropped off insulin supplies for my mom this morning and I spoke with a nurse. She said they are still waiting on the test to find out if mom is COVID negative. I told the nurse that my Husbear was worried that I’d have to quarantine before I came back home. She asked if my mom had coughed on me or near me. I said she hadn’t. She went on to say that if we both wore masks and she coughed, we’re better off. So, if she’s got it I probably might have to quarantine, but if she doesn’t, I won’t have to. 

This is why its better that we wear masks. It’s not forever friends, but if you decide not to wear a mask it will be forever. I hate to repeat it, wearing the  mask means it must cover your entire face, nose too. You don’t need to wear it when you drive, but if you go through a drive-thru line, wear it for your safety and the cashiers too. Besides, you don’t know if the person in the car in front of you has it or not. The cases are only multiplying, we need to be careful. 

We still don’t know the results from the COVID test, but the test of her lungs came back good. On the positive side she’s in a private room in the ER still, the hospital is full, and there are people ahead of her who have been there for 72 hours. She’s hoping to come home sooner, rather than later. But, she’s alone with a TV and ice chips. She’s in good spirits and the dogs have gotten used to me. 

Also on a positive note, my food has stayed consistent, although when I went shopping I’m not going to lie, I craved some sweet things, but I got blueberries instead. I’m going to eat the salad I got and watch Insane Pools and relax. 

What do you think about how commercials are handling this?

Shelter in Place Day 105

I spoke with my mom on Friday, she’s been checking in with me on my blood sugars and we pretty much talk at least once a week, maybe twice and text back and forth a lot more than usual. She sounded exhausted, she explained she’d been moving furniture around in the house and that she was finally taking a rest.

Saturday she texted me to say that she was sick, she’d been coughing all night and had a shortness of breath. I freaked out, of course, and asked what her temperature was. She didn’t know at the time. She said she was going to sleep in the bedroom all day and not do anything but watch the Hallmark channel. I messaged both of my aunts, but neither had gotten the messages.

Sunday rolled around and she sounded better but said she was going to lie in the bed one more day and she told me her temp, she said the cough was still there, but not as bad. Thought it might have been a flare-up of Epstein Barr. My aunt Ter called her three times on Sunday, to check in with her and make sure she was doing ok.

Also on Sunday, The Husbear got serious about everything and said we need to look into getting them some care so that you can get the power of attorney and rights so you can take care of them when they can’t take care of themselves. Both rents are in their seventies. I’m an only child and it’s time.

I called around to see what in care services ran and when I heard the price I just hung up the phone stunned. It’s more than I make in a week. So, Husbear called back and got the information, even asked about their competitors. And my mom said she was grateful that we were looking out for them.

She called to tell me the on-call nurse had told her it wasn’t COVID, and she stayed home. She had planned on laying in bed this morning, so she asked me to come down and take my dad to his doctor’s appointment at four and pick up some groceries for them. I’d planned on coming here around two to get it all done.

She called me back a few minutes later and said the RN from her doctor’s office said she needed to go to the ER to get checked out. I’ve just left her there. She called me, but her dogs bark so loud that I couldn’t hear her. I ended up sitting in my car to talk to her. My dad is trying to take a nap before his appointment and they bark at every move I make.

She told me they bark at every noise and sound, they just want people to lie down and be quiet. My dad is trying to sleep, but it’s hard. And if they admit her, I’ll drive back home to get my car and then drive back with a change of clothes and spend the night.

I cried when I left the ER, I’ve heard so many horror stories of people leaving their family only to never see them again. Please friends and family, please keep my mom in your thoughts and prayers. She’s at the same hospital ER they took my dad after his heart attack and she’s in the same bed he was in, so she feels better. She called to tell me that her blood pressure is fine, she’s had the COVID test and said it felt like it pricked her brain.

I’m numb and scared and trying to be brave and I just found out they are admitting her, she has bilateral pneumonia. I’ll take my dad to his appointment and then head home, get my car, and come back. It’s parked on a street sweeping side and The Husbear can’t drive my car. I’ll get the groceries for them tonight and get my dad fed. And spend the night.

Please pray for my mom, thank you.

Shelter in Place Day 104

“But enough about me, let’s talk about you. What do you think of me?” Bette Midler, Beaches

It’s check-in time. Nothing big from my life today, but I’d love to know how you’re holding up! And seriously, this post is not about me at all. I just love that quote.

If you need a place to just talk, or a shoulder to cry on, or even a shout out because everything is great. Let me know how are things?