Buying Colors

My ass has been planted at the hospital, making sure the girlfriend doesn't hallucinate too much from all the narcotics she's been put on. Each time I leave the ward, I try to avoid being in the photos of camera-toting trigger-happy medical tourists at all levels. Weekends and public holidays are awesome- the hospital is beautifully quieter, devoid of hordes of visitors and patients, and staff.

Sitting with a patient in any hospital isn't daunting or draining for me. I've had years of practice to know when to worry or when to be emotionally detached. After all, any patient will be in the good hands of the doctors and their team. There isn't much point in worrying anyway, not even if they're my nearest and dearest. In fact, I grow scarily calmer and quieter if they're people I care deeply about. The patient doesn't need to see or sense that the caregiver is frazzled or stressed. Patients need optimism, quiet confidence, and most of all, strength. They want to feel better asap too. Most times, if patients are knocked out or fast asleep, there's really no guilt for caregivers to step out for a walk. That won't cause their death or any worsening in medical conditions. I'm not the sort to pace up and down hospital corridors. Staying on an even keel makes me a more useful human to everyone. Even if something happens when I'm out, the medical team is in place. I, am virtually useless. Between the hours at the hospital(s) and sorting out random daily errands like dry cleaning, groceries and laundry, or a coffee run, a swim or pilates, I always manage to get a breather. Besides, having an iPad, books and a phone on hand makes it easy to keep occupied.

Mother's Day is round the corner, but there isn't time to sit down for a meal or shop for presents in the next 2 weeks. The work schedule is running crazy. The family's travelling schedules clash too. I'd have to shop NOW and settle the occasion's present and meal way in advance. Thankfully, there're plenty of malls, shops and supermarkets just across the road from the hospital. I wasn't going to walk all around to find something suitable. Can't stand shopping, and I'm not curious enough to want to spend hours at any given mall. Friggin' annoying. It's always easier to think, google, zoom in on either 2 shops or 2 items, then walk in to buy. Much faster.

While the girlfriend napped, I went off to have lunch, skipped the crap coffee for a cup of freshly squeezed strawberry juice, then zipped into 2 shops with a more or less concrete idea what I wanted. Found desired items in different styles at the second shop. Plenty of summer colors and lovely fabrics available. Nice. Made a snap decision, and that was that. The presents were placed in boxes all wrapped up with pretty ribbons. WHEWWWW. Errands, done.