Worry about Sheila

My younger sister Sally called this morning to tell me that my sister Sheila had been brought to the ER about midnight with symptoms of a stroke. She couldn't stand and her speech was garbled. They kept her in the ER overnight. She slept or was unconscious. They couldn't wake her. She did wake this morning with no memory of last night.

The photo is of Sheila many years ago, before she and her first husband split, and long before she met the monster who became her second husband.

She's been having kidney troubles lately, but the doctor thinks that Sheila may have overdosed on migraine medication. I've never known Sheila to have migraines. If I had to live the way she lives, supporting a lazy daughter, a lazier son-in-law, and two grandchildren and occasionally (often), one or two step-grandsons (one of whom is certifiably crazy)--all this in a tiny little house--well, I might be inclined to OD on something, too. We're waiting to hear what's next. Sally said she read Melissa the riot act, but she doubts anything will change.

There are sometimes good reasons for not living near relatives. It's horrible to worry from afar, but to be honest, I'm thankful that it's not part of my everyday life. I love Sheila, and I would love for her to have a good life, but she does make many of her own problems. Every time she kicks Melissa and family out, they somehow wind up moving back in before long, often at Sheila's insistence.

Sally is, of course, stressed. It was so nice to talk to her when she seemed happy, with all going well, and now, of course, that edge is back into her voice, the one that says, "I can't handle this!"

The department wants my syllabi today. Hah. Like that's going to happen! I'll be doing well if I can have them in time for classes to begin on the 31st.