I’d never seen so many one-eyed people in all my life. I knew what was going to happen but as I saw the results for the first time, I was surprised at my own reaction to this scene. Every person on the ward had the use of just one good eye and Ms. Ivy was one of them. My mother had just had eye surgery to correct a long time problem with her lens. I knew she’d have a patch over the eye and by the large number of people in the hospital’s waiting room, I knew she wasn’t the only one having the operation. When I got to the floor in the hospital where my mother was recovering, there were a covey of people with patches over one eye. It looked like a convention of pirates. As I entered my mom’s room I saw Ms. Ivy. She’d just had the same operation and had a patch over her eye, too. Ms. Ivy was talking with her daughters when I came in the room. They were giving her orders, “laying down the law” as it were. It became apparent that Ms. Ivy wasn’t sure of her doctor’s orders and her daughters wanted some assurance that she now understood them and would follow her doctor’s orders. After her daughters went home, I asked Ms. Ivy if there was anything she needed. “No hon,” she replied, “I think my daughters took care of everything for me.” I’m sure they had as Ms. Ivy looked worn out from all the instructions she had been given. Ms. Ivy turned out to be a pleasant roommate for mom. We talked about many things such as the national election held that day and who had won. Ms. Ivy was a staunch party follower and was interested in knowing if her favorites had been reelected. We talked about who won and who didn’t, about national politics, and about hometown issues up for vote. Later, Ms. Ivy called her daughters and I left the room as they talked. Her daughters seemed concerned again about whether she was following her doctor’s orders. I’m sure she did. Her daughters were very specific about it before they left the hospital earlier that day. The next morning I went to the hospital to take my mom home. Ms. Ivy hadn’t been discharged yet, so I said goodbye as I departed. “See ya Ms. Ivy,” I said as I escorted mom out of the room. “Hope everything goes well with you.” “Thanks,” she replied as I walked by her. “And make sure you take good care of your mama.” I guess giving orders runs in her family, but I didn’t mind at all. ### |
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