SSM recap - short story long

I'm back from my weekend away. It started Friday night with a shower at midnight and going to sleep around 2 AM, and getting up at 6:15 AM. Argh! I had already packed and had DH put my bag in the car. I remembered my props for the Desperate Housewives skit: a twisted halo made from wrapping wire with stars on it, and a real rope noose. I was the narrator - the dead Mary Alice who had hanged herself.

I left the house early enough to stop at the McD's drive-through for a much needed Egg McMuffin for breakfast. I got to the hotel and parked in the garage, even though I wasn't checked-in yet. Made sure at the front desk that they were okay with that. Went to the complimentary breakfast and sat with some sisters who got me some coffee to go with my McM. Then I went back down the three stairs - yes the complimentary breakfast was located on a raised area! If there was a ramp it was all the way on the other side, and too much trouble to find. Oh well - I dealt with it with a little help from a sister who stablized the walker.

Then I went over to register for the meeting. We always have a 'ditty bag' with the agenda and some candy and a pen and a local guide, etc. This time we managed to get Columbia Bank in conjunction with Habitat for Humanity to donate a 'green' navy grocery bag, which was great as it is something we will actually reuse again and again. I could have used another letter opener, though, as mine is getting kinda dull.

The meeting started just a little late at 9:10, and all went smoothly - even our skit at 10:30. It was a great success judging by the peels of laughter in the room. We had about an hour to blow as they set up for lunch, and I couldn't check in until after 3:00. So I just went to the lobby and chatted for awhile. Lunch was unremarkable chicken that had a really weird texture - it must have come from Arkansas, because it sure wasn't Foster Farms. But the dessert was a yummy white cake, layered with filling and and orange gel. I talked with the waitress and she said it was a Sara Lee that they make only for hotels, banquets and caterers. Who knew?

The afternoon had crafts. There were six tables set up and we had to visit each to learn how to tie nice bows, make pretty wreaths with ribbons and flowers, make pretty paper boxes out of paper, and a memory book out of folded paper and foam board and fabric, which was gorgeous, but my mind couldn't grasp all the twists and turns of the folding, so that one was lost on me -- and two others that I can't remember; MS brain fog. I found that by table five I was getting very tired, and getting up from the chair and moving about with the walker were getting more and more difficult. I was winding down - and fast.

Next, it was time to check in. I went to the car and got my bag and got my keys from the desk and proceeded up to my room - 520. It was THE LAST ROOM DOWN THE LONG CORRIDOR! Fuck.
Okay- All the handicapped rooms are at this end of the hall - close to the stairs, away from the elevators. My friend, who also has MS (but has an electric chair) is in the room next to mine. I went in and visited with her. We were hungry, and I said I would just suck it up and go to Freighthouse Square and get take out and bring it back to the room. So I left on a mission - get food.

I get to F.S. in five minutes and there is NO parking except for a 15 minute load only spot, which with disabled plates I could legally use. Only trouble with it was that is was at the far end of the square, and the food court is in the middle. I went in and took an elevator to the second floor, then I began the walk what was at least a block. I ended up sitting on the walker and using my feet to push me along backwards. Finally I get there, order our food, and two green Tea Snapples, which the server put into my basket. Then I repeated the HELLISH walk back the way I came. When I got out to the curb, I put the front wheels of my walker onto the street, but because it was front-heavy due to the food, and I was weak, I couldn't lift it to get the back wheels down. I was stuck, and it was starting to rain. Oh happy. Oh joy.

Just then, two guys who looked like gang-bangers came out the door. I asked for help with the walker and they were great, holding it steady for me so I wouldn't fall. I put the basket on the front passenger seat, then the walker in the back seat then got into the car, having to lift my legs in as they were barely able to move. I got back to the hotel and nabbed a closer handicapped spot, and got into the elevator, and faced the LONG HALL FROM HELL to room 518. My friend was so worried because I was gone nearly an hour for a twenty minute trip, but I sat back in the easy chair and we ate our curry and drank our tea. I did feel better after having something to eat-- and sitting for an hour or more, so I decided to go to at least make an appearance at the Easter Seals Auction. Oh, I had another piece of cake, too. Two desserts in one day! I think I deserved them. By 9:30 I was back in my room, and got ready for bed.

The room was cold, so I turned up the heat. I set the alarm for 7 AM, and I moved the phone to the edge of the desk so I could reach it easier in case anyone should call in the morning. [note to B3st W3stern - your accessible rooms aren't very accessible. Light switches are too high, phone cords are wadded and tied so they sit on the back of the desk which is across from the bed, the beds are a little high.] Anyway, I crawled into bed, and found I was too tired to stay up for Monk at 11:30, so it was lights out at 11:15 for me. I woke in two hours to change positions, and again in two hours to change back. It was then that I said, "oh shit." I had forgotten to turn the heat back down, and now I was overheated.

When I tried to get out of bed I knew I was in trouble. Not only had I had an exhausting day on only four hours sleep, now I was too hot - and we all know that MS doesn't play well with heat. I managed to get up and slowly walk over to turn down the thermostat, then started to make my way back when I found I was in real trouble. My arms were weak from taking my weight all day, my legs were not wanting to respond. I was at the foot of the bed saying "just five more steps," "just four more steps," when I lost it; I crumbled to the floor. Oh, it was much cooler on the floor. It felt good to be on the floor. But I knew that even in the best of circumstances, I can't get myself up off the floor.

I reached up to the desk, and could find the number pad and called 0 for the front desk. "Hi, I'm in Room 520, and I've fallen and can't get up. Could you call the Fire Department and get some help?"

"Certainly. Are you hurt?"

"No, just my dignity. It's not an emergency, so tell them NO SIRENS please."

"Sure, will do. I'll let you know when they're here."

So, she called back and told me they were here. I could hear that. And when they tried to open the door, they couldn't - because I had used THE SECURITY LATCH that the hotel has signs on the door telling you to use. But the hotel couldn't find the special tool they use to bypass THE SECURITY LATCH, and the door remained closed. Then the firemen took matters into their own hands and started prying and pounding on the doorjamb and it was so loud I imagine people five rooms away, and above and below me could hear it. I know my friend did, but she was too scared to open the door to see what was going on.

Anyway, after another five minutes they came in, 1 woman, and a pair of handsome men; there were three others who discreetly went out to the hallway. I was lifted to the bed, then told that I had to change rooms, because mine was no longer secure. So they nicely packed up all my stuff in my bag, and all the little stuff in the bag in my walker basket. And though they offered the desk chair, I opted to sit on my walker and get pushed to the floor below. I got settled, called for a wake-up call at 7 AM (which I didn't get), and was asleep by 4:15.

I was awakened by the phone ringing (on my nightstand - I had uncoiled the wadded up cord and moved the phone) at 8:45. It was my husband, whom my friend had called in a panic because the hotel wouldn't give her any information. So, when I was telling him what happened, she knocked on my door (she talked to someone else who gave her my new room number) and I told her I was okay but was on the phone, and would see her soon, and I finally got up, dressed and went down ANOTHER LONG HALL FROM HELL to the meeting -- Just in time for the Closing Ritual. I missed the snow shower we had that morning, and I missed the nice breakfast buffet they have for guests.

That's how memories are made. Oh, and I twisted my knee. It still hurts. And yes, one of my sisters helped me load my stuff in my car. I did need that help. I also called DH before I left and he was right there to give me a hand when I got home. He's also been quite attentive since I've been home, making me wrap my knee to give it extra support. It's something I wouldn't have done, because that's the way I roll. I'd just take an ibuprofen and call it good. But the attention is nice.

Good night, TTYL and Be Well