I spent most of today in suspended animation (and not all that "animated", to tell the truth), waiting for news on my mother's condition, and whether or not surgery would be required (and it if is, it's going to be major, MAJOR) and if so, would it be today. I had no ability to concentrate on the book or anything requiring much brain power, not having slept well at all last night, but I did get a few loads of laundry done; I was feeling the pressure to have clean clothes ready in case I need to pack and fly at a moment's notice.
Most of my waiting time was spent sitting on our canape-lit, staring out the window at the view. My favorite seat in the entire apartment is on the "L" of the sofa with a lap-desk and my computer before me (now with iPhone4 nearby as well; yes, I am now one of THOSE people). The light changes throughout the day and with the seemingly always-changing weather moods of the skies above Paris. My favorite time of day is the sunset hour; we don't get to see the sun set (that's on the OTHER side of the butte) but we get the light reflecting off the buildings below us.
So tonight I grabbed the iPhone (4!) and tried a few shots with the Hipstamatic photo app, which I just love. It's fun to change the virtual film and lens settings and see the special effects, many of which remind me of photos from my childhood back in the 60's and 70's. Here's the same view, several different ways:
There are dozens of combinations possible with Hipstamatic, and you just have to experiment. If you've got an iPhone, I can't recommend this little "camera" enough.
I was in the middle of writing about how we still didn't know the cause of my mother's illness, and how surgery didn't happen today but MIGHT happen tomorrow, when my sister called with some more positive news (finally). They have determined the cause of the infection that is making my mom so sick, and there is something else they can try, now that they know what it is, BEFORE moving to surgery as an option. So at least this is something encouraging even though it's not over yet, and even if this non-surgical treatment works, it will be a long, slow recovery.
I think my sister and I will sleep better tonight than we have in days. She, especially, has more than earned a night off and she's already on her way home to her wonderful husband, and my own darling man is just beside me, iPad in hand. Hopefully, Mom will have a better night; things were calmer around her today at the hospital (the whole admitting process yesterday was a real circus, and my sister hit the roof and it seems she did a good job of getting her point across that her mother is NOT a medical experiment, and yes, she used those exact words) and she'll be getting some IV nutrition this evening, to help her build her strength back up again.
And me? I'm going to curl up next to Georges, and watch reruns of That 70's Show. I need a good laugh, after all this waiting and worrying.
Thanks to all of you for your prayers, thoughts, and good energy on my mom's behalf, whether or not you sent a comment (I know you're all out there even if you're the quiet ones). Please keep them coming, because I think it's working!
