...that people can be so callous and just plain stupid. Especially when you're related to them. Problem is, if you're related to them by marriage only, sometimes you don't have the 'right' to speak your mind, depending on the family dynamic and the situation itself.
We drove down to our hometown today to spend a little bit of time with Robert's mother. When Robert called her yesterday, he found out that she'd fallen on a patch of black ice on Friday and injured her wrist. Of course, the local hospital didn't have anyone to read the films of her wrist; you can't take the word of the ER doc any longer, you have to have a radiologist look at it to make absolutely certain nothing is overlooked! (And don't forget to send that bill, Doc!)
Anyway, her wrist is bruised from knuckles to five inches past her wrist. The contusion is an absolutely marvelous shade of black. Since she asked me to read the discharge orders from the ER doc today, I'm guessing that delightful shade of black is due to the fact that she didn't RICE like she was supposed to. *sigh* She's in an immobilizer since it hasn't been determined whether there's a fracture or not. She's to go back to see her family doc tomorrow -first day everyone is back at work you see.
Here's the kicker, though. Robert's sister, Pam, lives about 4 miles away from her mother. She and her husband and two sons are going to take a small vacation to duck hunt in Tennesee. They leave on Wednesday.
But, can Pam take her mother to the doctor tomorrow? Nooooooooo......she is going to be too busy packing to take the hour or two out of her busy day of packing to take her mother to the local doctor. So, Robert has to drive the 36 miles down there to take his Mom to the doc, make sure things are okay, and then drive home once again. And, Pam will be on the phone at least twice during the visit, instructing Robert on just how he should be dealing with this situation and how he could do things better (meaning, to her satisfaction!) She jumped all over her mother's case this morning when she found out we were coming down..."you should have called them right back and told them to come on Tuesday so they could take you to the doctor!" And that was the first his mother had known that Pam didn't want to take her to the doc.
Understand, Robert doesn't mind taking his mother to the doctor, it's just the principle of the thing...Pam is one of those who loves to be in charge....unless it's infringing on her right to do what SHE wants, regardless of how others will be affected by it.
She'll be the type who'll figure out things once her mother passes away, sad to say.
6 comments:
Why is it that almost every family has one of her in it? That just sucks, and kudos to Robert for helping his mom out. His sister will have to work out her karma....
She sounds very selfish.
My condolences ot Bob, Kate, but maybe there's a good side to this: he and Mom will have a chance to chat together, just the twa of them, perhaps come a bit closer. Maybe that's no so bad, after all. Then again, mayha one of them will be driven to commit homicide (big silly grin).
I agree wi' Jude: Pam's her ain karma to deal wi' later.
The Auld Scot
Well, the good news is that Robert's mother has no fractures, just a severe sprain of, basically, her thumb. But sprains are harder to get over than fractures, so it's not going to be pleasant. Anyway, the doc took the immobilizer away, and since she left it in Robert's truck, we know that rule will be followed. *grin*
Now, get this. You *knew* this would happen, I'm sure - I sure knew it would! Robert and his mother were out at the hospital/offices and of course they had to go from the doc's office to the hospital and back again. Then it was out to the WalMart pharmacy to fill some scripts and tell management that she'd be off work till the 8th. (His mother works as a greeter at W/M.)
Who comes down the aisle to meet them? Pam, naturally. "I went by the hospital and saw your truck, Robert, and I went inside to find you but I couldn't find you anyplace!"
When Robert told her what was going on, she argued with him over everything. "Mom needs to soak her hand in warm water and exercise it, do stretches, etc." "No, you mean she has to soak it in COLD water." "NO, WARM WATER, PAM!" And so on and so forth. Argh.
Isn't it amazing that somehow she found the time to track them down to find out what was going on, but she didn't have time to take Lucy to the doc in the first place?
Oh *GROAN*!! You've gotta be kidding me Kate..... goes to show you just how selfish she is!
Yes, but ultimately she had to look like she was concerned. Hence, tracking them down and all. We have one of those in the family as well, but we just ignore her. She showed her true side Christmas day showing up to my inlaws drunk as a skunk. Let's see how she weedles her way out of that one.
I'm glad it's just a sprain. At her age, the long term effects of a break would be worse. My mom broke her ankle in three places slipping on the ice and it still gives her trouble, five years later.
As the Auld Scot suggested, perhaps one day you can return the "favor".
"What's that Pam, you've fallen and can't get up"?
"Hang on and I'll see if I can find someone who cares"!
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