Will wonders never cease or

has Hell frozen over and nobody bothered to tell me.

Earlier today, Diane actually apologized for her actions of the other night when Gram was sick at the stomach.

To say I am in shock is a mild understatement.

I HAVE HAD IT

with the useless human being known as my Mother (hereafter referred to as Diane---she doesn't deserve to be called Mother or any of its derivatives).

Last night was the straw that broke the camel's back. A little back story needs to be inserted here. There is a nasty bug making the rounds (it gives you the runs so bad, it's like water). I had it on Tuesday and unfortunately, Gram caught it on Wednesday. And because of the damn Parkinson's when Gram caught it and I got her to the bathroom talk about shit hitting the fan the hard way. We had it all over everywhere. Could Diane help at all. Not on your Nellie. She had to hide in the garage until it was all over and I had the worst of it cleaned up.
In all honesty, Diane reminds me of the southern belles of yesteryear, who were so dainty, anyone brought anything up (subjects or actual wounds), the delicate ones would automatically faint.

Now come forward to yesterday. Gram and I made a trip to the Doctor's (routine prescription renewal and flu shots). Of course, I asked if there was a bug going around and was relieved that yes there was. Of course, I mentioned that both Gram and I had suffered from it, and Dr. Kalsi checked Gram out to be sure it was nothing more serious.

Well, as many of you know, I have 2 half-days off per week for respite care. Yesterday afternoon was one of those two half-days. And as always the lady who comes likes to feed Gram a snack. Because we had to be up early for going to the Doctor's, Gram had an earlier than usual breakfast, which meant that she would be hungry. And in fact, she was hungrier than usual, so it took quite a while to get her filled up. I also realized that she would be pretty empty after what had happened the night before.

So, fast forward to later in the evening. I had just received and was in the middle of a long-distance phone call with a friend, who had phoned to get my Christmas wish list. Unfortunately, before we could get to the gist of the phone call, we were interrupted by my Mother, who informed me Gram was sick at the stomach (vomiting) and instead of dealing with it herself, insisted I deal with it, which meant of course I had to cut short my long-distance phone call.

Needless to say, I was not at all thrilled by this. Nor was I surprised by it. Diane has to be the most useless piece of goods this planet has ever produced.

I have been known to say that if anything happens to me, because I am Gram's primary caregiver, Gram and I are screwed. Diane's response has been when she has heard me "Oh no, we'll (meaning her and the rest of the family) take good care of Gram." Yeah right, and if you believe that I've got some swampland in the middle of Antarctica to sell you. She can talk the talk but can't walk the walk when it comes right down to it.

And as my cousin asked me, "what would Diane have done had I not been here?" The answer to that is very simple, based on past experience. She would have called the ambulance/paramedics.

The bug that Gram and I had is one I normally would not wish on anyone. But in this case I am prepared to make an exception. I hope to hell Diane gets it, and gets it bad. Would I care for her the way I do Gram. Not on your Nellie. If she had the difficulty Gram had last night, I just intend to phone the ambulance/paramedics.

As to the phone call from the friend in question. She understood, and I'll be e-mailing her today to let her know my Christmas wish list and that Gram is okay and recovering nicely, no thanks to Diane