Mother/Daughter bonding

I spent the last week in the grip of a violent intestinal bug, hence the absence of new blog entries. I had to cancel my trip to see Mike in St Louis (injury) and I only had enough sick time to cover 3 of the 5 days I was out so I had to take two vacation days anyway (insult).

On the plus side, I got to spend a week + of quality bonding time with mom.

Mom visited the ER the week before last and picked up a bug in addition to the malady that originally sent her there. She thought hers was the result of a drug interaction. That is, until I came down with the exact same symptoms last Monday.

I called my doctor after the vomiting began. She called back an hour later (after the uncontrollable diarrhea set in) and phoned in a prescription for the nausea. Suggested Immodium for the trouble at the other end.

You know how once you vomit something up, you want never to eat it again? I'm adding bananas and oatmeal to the list.

Anyway, mom and I were both flattened the first few days. We spent a lot of time watching TV--mostly movies on AMC or whatever channel was showing something interesting. She rolled her eyes but indulged me when I petitioned to watch a couple episodes of The Young and the Restless and Days of Our Lives--soaps I only watch when I'm under the weather. It's part of my healing ritual, along with bed rest, chicken soup and other comfort foods.

If mom had seen a movie (i.e. The Philadelphia Story), I kept pestering her to tell me what happened in case a return of symptoms prevented me from watching to the end. When I'd seen something she hadn't (Bend it Like Beckham), she pestered me for plot details.

By Thursday, we were feeling ready for something a little more substantial: the six-hour A&E version of Pride and Prejudice. We'd watched devotedly when it first aired and I bought it for Mother's Day the year it came out on video. I broke the DVD out of my stash and popped it into the player. We made tea while the opening credits rolled and settled in among the down throws and fleece blankets to watch. PK would occasionally curl up on my lap and fall asleep, adding to the cozy ambiance.

We didn't stir until it was time to put in disc 2. About an hour in to the second half, Mike called. I exited to talk to him and missed a crucial hour of unfolding details. I rejoined mom and we watched the end together.

On Saturday morning, I wandered in and sat down on the couch with mom. We concluded that we were feeling better. Mom broached the topic first: "You know, we could watch it again..." Yes, I said, needing no details to know her meaning. "If we start now, we'll be done by 4:00 pm." We scurried to make breakfast, tea, and arrange our bedding for P&P round two.

This probably the last time mom and I will get to lie around together and indulge in P&P screenings. I could do without the being sick part, but it was truly sweet and truly decadent to indulge in a little mother/daughter/curled up kitty time.