Yesterday I made my first visit to John in the Hospital. Visiting hours are 7 PM to 8 Pm. I was 15 minutes early and exited the elevator into a crowded waiting room. Already there were about 20 people there and none seemed to be happy. No balloons, no flowers or no smiles. At 7 PM the door to the ward opened and we were checked in one by one and any bags were checked. John had no Visitor’s list pre approved so I had a slight delay prior to admittance. I had a bag or Potato Chips and a box of Fixodent for him and then made me transfer if from the store plastic bag to a Hospital paper bag.
The whole waiting room experience reminded me of an ASPCA waiting room with the puppies on the other side of door popping their heads up hopefully. The walls were plastered with restrictions and prohibited items and any clothing was held to be searched before given to the patients. Where is Nurse Ratchet ??
John was very happy to see me, his first visitor. Beside the chips I had also brought him a phone list of contacts of other AA members. We talked for the entire hour and when I left I had a few new tasks. I will go to his apartment and clean it removing all the alcoholic empties and he said there are lot of them. Empty the fridge of spoilable items and remove the garbage. Either a friend of his or his son will assist me in the cleanup. I suggested that I get him a change of clothes. He does have access to laundry services.
John informed me that he really LIKES the food in the Hospital and I told him that he is where he needs to be, in a Psyche Ward. He had shaved and the trembling in his hands has vanished. I am going back tomorrow night with a box of Chocolate Cupcakes; the latest request.
This promises to be a busy week with Saturday a Photographers dream, a Zombie Walk on the boardwalk in Asbury Park and Sunday morning a Cancer Walk for Cancer
Cure basically for Breast Cancer victims. We march as a team every year in remembrance of my youngest daughter,
Marybeth. This is held on the grounds of Great Adventure ( 6
Flags ) amusement park in Jackson NJ. The group is all
family and friends and grows in size every year.
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