Friday, August 15, 2008

8-15 two dozen donuts

the first thing i agree to do today is taking my mom to the dentist. she just had a have a root canal. a fucking root canal on top of everything else. she's been there a few times the past few weeks. i can't believe how much time one person can spend at appointments.
'i want to stop at dunkin on the way there,' she tells me
'you want coffee?'
'yeah, and i want to pick up some donuts for their office'
'donuts? for the dentist?'
'yeah'
oh geez, i think. it's pretty out of control how many gifts all these various doctors have received from my mom. dvds, cds, books. the fireman who came to help her up off the floor on 2 separate occasion got stew one time and cake another. i helped to make the cake.
okay. it's really sweet. i can get them a box of donuts if that is what she wants.
we pull up.
'i want a coffee, a maple donut, and 2 dozen donuts for the staff'
'2 dozen donuts? how many people work there?' i ask
'oh there's a lot of people'
the next thing i know i am picking out an assortment of 24 donuts for my mom's dentist and his staff. we get there and i hand them to the front desk receptionist. i count her, the hygenist, the dentist, oh, one more hygenist...that's a lot of fucking donuts.
they are very grateful
'how thoughtful! thank you' they say. i think it's funny to bring one of the most sugary treats to a dentist office but once my mom makes up her mind forget it.
and this is how it is. the nurse at the family doctor's office gets the watch my mom came in wearing because she commented on how pretty it was. the next thing you know she is listening to my mom's heart and the watch is being slipped around her wrist while she holds the stethoscope. my mom gives and gives and gives and it's like she can't stop even when she has no energy for anything else. she's too tired to walk, i've been pushing her in a wheelchair. she's too tired to talk very much, to do her projects. but she can't stop with the gifts. who is this lady? how can anyone so good get so sick? i keep hoping she will get back all of what she has put out into the world. all that she is still putting out even now...

2 comments:

jill said...

that is so sweet. what a great lesson in gratitude and kindness. your mom is such a sweetiepie

sharon v said...

maybe your mom could visit me, i need 2 dozen donuts! where did you move to? i have some questions. it's very nice, your words. ox sv