They tried to make me go to rehab …

Where I’ve been the past few weeks:

= I spent the week in Athens, Ga., visiting Chris.

= On the way home from Athens, on a Sunday, I got the news that my grandmother was in the hospital.

= I spent the better part of the next week at the hospital. My aunt, Josie, stayed with Mia (my grandmother) for 7 nights, and then I stayed with her the 8th night. The two nights before I stayed with her I babysat my nieces, which was awesomely fun. Sadie had a cold, though …

= On the 9th day, a Monday, Mia got released to a short-term rehab center, and I went to stay with her there. We were there until she got released on a Saturday. I slept in a chair for 5 nights. It was 5 nights of hell. On Friday, I heard that my friend Virginia’s cancer had taken a turn for the worse, and that things did not look good.

= On Saturday, Mia went home, and I went home. I was there all of an hour when I heard that Virginia had passed away overnight.

= On Sunday, I felt the beginning symptoms of a cold. I ignored these symptoms and went running anyway. It was to be a 9-mile run, and after all I’d been through, I really needed that 9 miles. Kevin came out and ran with me, which was awesome – he and I haven’t run together in a while. On mile 2, I was watching traffic and didn’t see that there was a hole in the road where the shoulder should be. My foot slipped off the shoulder, bending my ankle 90 degrees. I thought surely I’d broken it, but a few steps later and it felt fine.

= That night, my “fine” ankle turned into “omg I can’t walk” and I ended up hopping everywhere for the next 24 hours. My coldish symptoms also turned into full-blown sick.

= I spent the better part of this week in bed, getting up only to go to a funeral, go to the doctor, and let the termite inspectors in. I was supposed to be at my grandmother’s all week but I couldn’t go and risk giving her my cold. It’s Thursday, and I’m still sick, and I do not want to be sick any more.

= The silver lining: My friend Scott signed me up for a 5K on Saturday, and I desperately need to be well enough to run by then, for my body and my soul. Now that is a wonderful, wonderful friend. I have other wonderful friends too – those who offered to bring me dinners or lunches or drugs …

Will elaborate later on my stint in rehab (I wasn’t the patient, but I might as well have been as close as I was to everything), on the loss of Virginia, someone who I worked with for 7 years and who I respected very much, and on the 5K.

But right now, I’m going back to bed.


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20 responses to “They tried to make me go to rehab …”

  1. Scott Helms Avatar
    Scott Helms

    What Mello didn’t tell everyone in the blog was that she was kind enough to help with the small graphics project that benefitted our team and the cause for Saturday’s race. That’s a friend, and MY SINCERE THANKS for that! Hoping you’re well enough to run on Saturday. I’m shooting for a sub 24 minute PR! 🙂

  2. Scott Helms Avatar
    Scott Helms

    What Mello didn’t tell everyone in the blog was that she was kind enough to help with the small graphics project that benefitted our team and the cause for Saturday’s race. That’s a friend, and MY SINCERE THANKS for that! Hoping you’re well enough to run on Saturday. I’m shooting for a sub 24 minute PR! 🙂

  3. Staci Avatar

    I was wondering where you have been. Sorry to hear about your friend! I hope you get better soon!
    .-= Staci´s last blog ..Day 2- No Soda =-.

  4. Staci Avatar

    I was wondering where you have been. Sorry to hear about your friend! I hope you get better soon!
    .-= Staci´s last blog ..Day 2- No Soda =-.

  5. beth Avatar

    I was wondering about you earlier today and thought I was going to have to e-stalk you. I’m sorry to hear things have been so rough – healing wishes to mia, your ankle and cold, and for losing your friend.
    -beth
    .-= beth´s last blog ..radio silence =-.

  6. beth Avatar

    I was wondering about you earlier today and thought I was going to have to e-stalk you. I’m sorry to hear things have been so rough – healing wishes to mia, your ankle and cold, and for losing your friend.
    -beth
    .-= beth´s last blog ..radio silence =-.

  7. Elwood Avatar

    Get better! Sending every ounce of Good Vibes that I can spare your way. 🙂
    .-= Elwood´s last blog ..Andrew Koenig, 1968-2010 =-.

  8. Elwood Avatar

    Get better! Sending every ounce of Good Vibes that I can spare your way. 🙂
    .-= Elwood´s last blog ..Andrew Koenig, 1968-2010 =-.

  9. Heather Avatar

    Ditto Elwood.
    You’re the toughest cookie I know, and you will rise above.
    .-= Heather´s last blog ..Reformatting February =-.

  10. Heather Avatar

    Ditto Elwood.
    You’re the toughest cookie I know, and you will rise above.
    .-= Heather´s last blog ..Reformatting February =-.

  11. Yuri @ urbanvox HQ Avatar

    ditto heather…
    I wondered where you were… 🙂
    hugssssssssss!!!
    .-= Yuri @ urbanvox HQ´s last blog ..Mini coffee Twitup and then more coffee! 🙂 =-.

  12. Yuri @ urbanvox HQ Avatar

    ditto heather…
    I wondered where you were… 🙂
    hugssssssssss!!!
    .-= Yuri @ urbanvox HQ´s last blog ..Mini coffee Twitup and then more coffee! 🙂 =-.

  13. Crystal Avatar
    Crystal

    I’m sorry to hear about the loss of your friend. All this stress is not making it easier for you to get better! I hope you are up and running asap!

  14. Crystal Avatar
    Crystal

    I’m sorry to hear about the loss of your friend. All this stress is not making it easier for you to get better! I hope you are up and running asap!

  15. Kevin Avatar

    I hope you are feeling better cold and ankle wise! I want to run (again) and cycle with you soon!

  16. Kevin Avatar

    I hope you are feeling better cold and ankle wise! I want to run (again) and cycle with you soon!

  17. Chris Avatar

    Nice job, Scott.

    Melissa, you’ve been through an awful lot the past few weeks and I think your strength in all of it is just a testament to your character. I’m sure Mia is grateful for you; I know I am.

  18. Chris Avatar

    Nice job, Scott.

    Melissa, you’ve been through an awful lot the past few weeks and I think your strength in all of it is just a testament to your character. I’m sure Mia is grateful for you; I know I am.