When I was an intern here years ago, my parents came to visit. You can imagine that they were nervous about having their daughter living on her own in a big city. My dad would always lecture me on being safe and I always said, "oh dad, it's fine. I never see anything crazy here and always feel safe." And then they come to visit...
We were riding the metro. Something I rode several times a day and never saw anything weird. In their one visit, we saw a gross looking bum skulking in the train car and a transvestite in full outlandish drag. Two things that would absolutely not make them feel more comfortable about me being here all alone.
This time, the power went out and Heber contracted hand foot and mouth disease. No, I'm not kidding. These are two things that I've never seen happen to such an epically bad degree.
Friday night we were standing on our deck and watched a storm blow in. There were flashes of lightning and crashes all over and then the lights went off. My initial reaction to power going out is excitement. I have to admit that it's a little bit of an adventure to find your way around in the dark. But then it stayed off. For days. In 100 degree and humidity heat that can make any place feel stifling. There is nothing fun or exciting with that.
The first day we escaped to the air conditioned halls of Ford's Theater. When we returned home, the lights were on! And then off they went again but not everywhere, just our building. All the lights were on around us just taunting us with their air conditioning.
As a side, can I say that I love being married to an engineer. Heber somehow figured out how to harness power from our car batteries to run a fan. That man is a genius.
Anyway, the power finally came back on Monday afternoon. I have never in my life been so happy to have electricity. We survived and Heber did too. He's getting better everyday.
We had such a nice visit with my parents. They were such good sports about it all and it's so nice to have people around that just think you're wonderful all the time. Sometimes I need that in my life. Perhaps, though, we need to prepare better for the next time they visit.
6 comments:
When it rains, it pours, right? That hand foot and mouth thing was totally bizarre- poor, poor Heber!
Sorry about the power going out. Glad that you were able to come over to A/C one night, and if you ever need to camp out somewhere, you know you're always welcome here! :)
Sorry to hear it. I hope things improve soon.
A few months ago my boys and I all got hand and foot and mouth disease! :O We think Benjamin picked it up from the McDonalds playland. Yuck. It started with Benjamin having slight fever one day, then a few blisters on his hands and feet a couple days later. Then Grant got a major fever and really bad spots all over his body that we at first thought were chicken pox. All the doctors told me it's most common in children and adults don't get it, but then I had a major fever, severe body aches and a few days later, teeny tiny blisters on my hands and feet = miserable.
So glad Heber is better now and that your power is back. ;) Good thing that you, Leo, and your parents didn't get it too...it is very, very contagious.
whoa. sorry gen. hope leo didn't get hfmdisease! its the worst. and is Hebs feeling better? i know mom and dad loved it anyway and the picts of you all (esp Leo with grans and grandpa matt) are soo darling. miss you guys. love you.
How horrible! I heard a bunch of kids in the nursery had hand foot and mouth disease recently. Maybe that's how he caught it? Glad he's getting better!
Troubles always oome in bunches!!! I am so sorry you had to suffer through all that- and Heb too!!! :( no fun!
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