life

These past few weeks have been quite full, for lack of a better word. I had planned to post more during the Olympics, but was unable due to the time constraints - the majority of the time I was working until midnight or later, and couldn't muster the energy on return. In short, the Olympics were amazing. While the job was unglamorous, being in that city for the duration was amazing. The energy, the camaraderie, the craziness... it was all good. Being over there also gave me a chance to see Lindsay more than once, which was grand. It was also great staying with Liz and Chris for so long. We used to live together a few years ago, and it was good to hit that vibe again. I'd missed it.

Speaking of Liz, she has launched a blog for her writing. She is wrapping up her Masters of Fine Arts in Creative Writing at UBC in a matter of weeks, and has started an internet presence. It's never too late. So please, go and check out her writing - it is far more insightful and funny than mine. Click here to be taken there.

So life. That is what has taken me back away from updating my blog. So as I sit here, listening to The New Pornographers with the sun setting outside my office window, I will endeavour to catch you up.

On March 10, my parents travelled to Parksville to celebrate their month-a-versary. They were married on November 10, 1976, and mark the tenth day of each month some way, even if it is just with a coffee or a walk. However, March 10 was their 400th month-a-versary, so they decided an overnight trip to Parksville was in order. They had called me earlier that afternoon to chat, and, being in the midst of papers, I had to hedge my bets and say maybe. We set a date to call at 9.30pm - I could have a chat with them before bed.

9:35pm rolls around, and my phone rings. It's my mother, and I prepare to be all conversation with her. I have my cup of tea, and my feet up in my cozy slippers. We do the polite "How are you?" and my mother replies "Oh, we're ok, but..."

"Your father has had an incident at dinner, and is on his way to Nanaimo hospital in an ambulance."

My heart immediately leapt into my throat. It lasted only a second - I immediately decided that he had an allergic reaction, which has happened before. My mother asked if I can go and meet him at the emergency room. Of course, I agreed. However, I was working against the clock. Having just taken my amitriptyline, my focus and awareness was about to be severely dulled. So I hop into better clothes, and anticipating a long wait in the ER, pack up a couple of textbooks, and head for the hospital. I call my sister as I pack up, and tell her not to worry, and I will update them. I can't raise Matthew.

It is only as I drive to the hospital that I realize I only know vaguely where it is. I drive up and down the street in the rain and darkness, and can't find the turn. I finally ask a pedestrian on the other side of the street, but they know just as much as I do. I finally find the turn (which is only indicated for east-bound traffic, not west as I was travelling), and get to the hospital. I can't find the ER. I go around the block and find it. Found the ER. Now I have to pay for parking. I was getting a bit worked up by the delay of it all.

I checked in the triage nurse, and I have beat my father there. The ambulance rolls up, and my father is brought in on his stretcher. His eyes are closed, but he is yawning. I relaxed - a yawning man is not a dying man. I called my mom and updated her that he seemed fine. The nurses told me I could go in and see him in a few minutes. In the intervening time, my mom rolls up in a taxi, so I go out to meet her. It is only after I get her inside and settled into the waiting area that my mom tells me that it was his heart. They had been eating dinner when my dad said "I need an ambulance." When the ambulance picked him up, his heart was beating at 32 beats per minute... not enough.

more to come