Family | But I Smile Anyway...

July 26– Flash Fiction – Stranded Suitcase

27 Jul 2018 86 Comments

by Ritu in #CarrotRanch, Fiction, Thoughts Opinions & Memories Tags: #CarrotRanch, Alone, Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Charli Mills, Family, Finland, Flash Fiction, Grandchild, Pops, Recovery, Stranded Suitcase

Charli’s prompt this week:

July 26, 2018, prompt: In 99 words (no more, no less) write a story about what happens next to a stranded suitcase. Go where the prompt leads you, but consider the different perspectives you can take to tell the tale.

Suitcase of Hope

Opening the bedroom door, the first thing I saw was the abandoned suitcase, open on the bed. Half packed, it had been left, bereft at not being full, zipped up, and off on another adventure.

I walked over, closed the lid, fastened it and placed it to one side. “Don’t worry, he’ll be better soon, then you can both go on your travels, with no worries at all.”

Pops appeared by my side, having taken a few moments longer to climb the stairs than me.

“It’s okay Pops, rest up. I’ll pack your case when the time is right.”

Today’s take is based upon true events. If you have been reading my blog recently, you’ll know that my Pops has been extremely unwell, needing emergency open surgery a few weeks back. On the day he was being operated on, my sister-in-law gave birth to my new nephew, and Pops’ fourth grandchild.

My mum is already in Finland with my brother and his family, and the plan was that Pops would be joining her there so he could enjoy the delights of his new grandchild too.

Unfortunately, that is not the (suit)case at the moment, he won’t be flying anywhere for a while. I arrived back home with my children today, to ease him back into his own home, after spending the last three weeks after being discharged from hospital convalescing at his niece’s house.

Though a case was not actually strewn across his bed, there are several scattered around the house, Mum’s part-packing jobs done before she left, so she could take more things when she does a return journey, with Pops!

He’s doing so well, considering the ordeal he went through, but still very weak. We went for a slow, short walk this evening and it was so wonderful to see my Pops almost back to normal, a little slower, a little thinner, but definitely my Pops. ❤

❤ my Pops

And here’s hoping that after his follow up appointment in September, he will be able to go and finally give that new addition a proper cuddle! ❤

https://carrotranch.com/2018/07/27/july-26-flash-fiction-challenge/

Spidey’s Serene Sunday – Part 178

15 Jul 2018 46 Comments

by Ritu in #bloggers bash, Audio, Family, Spidey's Serene Sundays, Thoughts Opinions & Memories Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Family, Parents, Quote, Serene, Smile, Spidey

“You don’t choose your family. They are God’s gift to you, as you are to them.”

Desmond Tutu

Thanks, Spidey.

After the particularly harrowing week we had with Pops, this quote couldn’t ring truer.

It’s always been a struggle being three hours away from my parents, being so emotionally close to them.

And it’s always been one of my biggest fears too, one of them falling ill, and me not being able to do anything, immediately. My brother being in another country doesn’t help either.

But here is where the beauty of having a large, close-knit family comes into play.

My parents have, over the years done SO MUCH for everyone, that when they are in need, there is no shortage of people offering their support.

Even so, not everyone can commit to a long term solution.

When Pops was ill, he stayed with his niece, my cousin.

Whilst I couldn’t come down, I was given regular updates on his health. Even after the major hospital stay, once I had to come home, I received calls and messages to let me know how he was.

When I came to spend days with him, I stayed with them too. No one wanted me to be alone at Pops and Mums place.

And now, since he needs a lot of rest and recuperation, they have taken him in again, until I can come down more long-term in the holidays.

I was with him again yesterday, and he’s tired… lots of well wishers on the phone and visitors, but he’s comfortable.

My cousin and her family are really looking after him.

They really are a gift from God to us.

Pray for his speedy recovery, Peeps.

Have a peaceful Sunday ❤

A Positive Announcement and Colleen’s Weekly Tanka Challenge #Announcement #Tanka Bewitched & Treasure #MicroPoetry #Family

10 Jul 2018 79 Comments

by Ritu in #ColleensWeeklyPoetryChallenge, Challenges, Children, Family, Thoughts Opinions & Memories Tags: #ColleensWeeklyPoetryChallenge, Bewitched & Treasure, Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Family, New Arrival, tanka, Updates

Well, I said, at the end of yesterday’s update that I might have something great to share with you.

After approval from the parties involved, I am so very proud/pleased/chuffed to announce that I have a new nephew!!!

My brother and his wife became parents to their second son on Sunday evening! My nephew is now Finndian #1 and he has a new little brother, Finndian #2!

He is a beautiful bundle, and the news of his arrival really perked Pops up too.

We managed to get a video call in and say hello to the new addition too, yesterday, which was a true boost to Pops.

The Finndian population has increased by one!

And in celebration of this wonderful news, I have penned a tanka whcich fits perfectly with the challenge words from dear Colleen, where she gives 2 words but you must use them in synonym form!

The words this week are Bewitched & Treasure. I used Captivated and Precious.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Ritu Bhathal ✍🏽📚💜 (@ritubhathalwrites)

Another new life
I’m truly captivated
Can’t contain my smile
Precious bundle from above
Bringing joy to all around

Ritu 2018

https://colleenchesebro.com/2018/07/10/colleens-weekly-tanka-tuesday-poetry-challenge-no-92-bewitch-treasure-synonymsonly/

Welcome to Tanka Tuesday

Every cloud has a silver lining, it is true, and this week’s HUGE cloud has produced an even SHINIER lining!

Pops is doing so much better today, he is less two tubes too, which is great… Two more to go!

Thank you EVERYONE for the good wishes, all your hopes and prayers have really helped.

Peace out Peeps, and go wet the baby’s head on my behalf!!!!

An Update On Pops and Ronovan’s Weekly Haiku Challenge #209 Old & Days #Haiku #Micropoetry

09 Jul 2018 129 Comments

by Ritu in #ronovansweeklyhaikuchallenge, Challenges, Family, Poems, Thoughts Opinions & Memories Tags: #MicroPoetry, #ronovansweeklyhaikuchallenge, Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Family, Haiku, Health, love, NHS, Parents, Poetry, Pops

Thank you all for your kind wishes regarding Pops and his ill health. As regular readers, you all know how much he, and my mum, means to me.

Well, I went with my gut instinct.

I received a message in the early hours of Sunday morning to say a CT scan was required and possible surgery.

My mind was made.

We deposited the children with their other grandparents, and Hubby Dearest and I rushed (as fast as you can rush in the heat, and on a three-hour motorway journey where the M1 will inevitably have roadworks and traffic) up to Birmingham.

And I am so glad I am here with him now.

He looked so tiny when I got here. This wasn’t the vibrant Pops I knew.

The anaesthetic and morphine had him in a muggy daze and for the first couple of hours, he kept on waking up, and saying hello, not registering that we had been there a while.

He was very pale, but a welcome pale from the almost jaundiced yellow he had been the day before.

It appears (though this is not conclusive) that there may have been an ulcer caused by regular long-term medication that burst, causing a perforation, or tear in the bowel. The possibility of gastroenteritis from a few days before may have aggravated the issue, causing the tear, and then subsequent seepage into his body from the bowel, that created the extreme pain he had been suffering.

Long story short – he needed major surgery to remove the torn section of bowel, and then rejoin it all, and drain the unneccesary ‘stuff’ (yes, technical medical term there!) from around it.

The surgeon said the bowel was so red and inflamed it was angry, or ‘vexed’ in his words.

He was wired up to all sorts, tube in his nose, oxygen mask on, catherer in, various IV drips with saline and antibiotics…

But the surgery went well, straightforward, they said.

He regained a little colour before we left, but he was still really groggy.

I made the decision then that I need to be with him for a few days at least.

So, here I am, tapping into my Surface whilst he dozes by my side.

He looks wonderful (well, as wonderful as you can with tubes everywhere) a smile on his face when I arrived. It warmed my heart ❤

He’s taken a few steps and is on fluids only still at the moment, but he has definitely turned a corner… a huge one!

My heartfelt thanks to the NHS team too, who have been so amazing since he was admitted. They are always around with a smile on their faces, nothing is ever too much of a big job for them, and if you can spare a smile and politeness for these angels, they will always go that extra mile, without question.

And so, I found Ronovan’s prompt words, Old & Days, a good prompt for a little Pops based Haiku, to celebrate this time we have together, chatting in between his dozes…

Nothing better than
Spending days with our elders
Old wisdom passed on

Ritu 2018

It wasn’t all bad though, yesterday. There is something else I want to share… but I’ll save that for another post!

Til then, peace out Peeps! I love you all!

Spidey’s Serene Sunday – Part 177

08 Jul 2018 59 Comments

by Ritu in #bloggers bash, Audio, Family, Spidey's Serene Sundays, Thoughts Opinions & Memories Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Family, Parents, Quote, Serene, Smile, Spidey

“Parents act so strong for us, that we often forget how fragile they are.”

Anon

Thanks, Spidey.

Writing this knowing that Pops is back in hospital after another relapse, and possible infection.

I wanted to go and see him yesterday, but he convinced me he was okay, and under the care of my cousin. There would be nowhere to stay, and it would be a long round trip journey to complete in one day, especially in this heat.

I had reassuring calls from him and my cousins. It was decided that I would go next weekend instead.

Then, at 8:45pm last night I get a call…

They’ve had to take him into A & E again, because the pains were getting bad again.

I am grateful he had been there, at their house. Goodness knows what he would have done if he was at home, alone.

He sounded pretty down again when I spoke to him, but he was on an IV drip, the antibiotics getting ready to kick in.

They’ll be keeping him in under observation for at least 24 hours.

I want to go today.

He tells me, no.

He’s in the hospital, I won’t get to be with him much. Everyone else is there.

I know that.

But it’s a double-edged sword…

I worry about him, and need reassurance myself. I know I am getting calls and updates, but it’s not the same.

Equally, if I was to set off early tomorrow to see him, then drive back the same day, he would worry about me. It was on a journey back from home that my awful accident happened…

I know my mum. She is probably beside herself too, but staying as calm as she can. She really can’t get here, being in Finland.

Still in the throes of deciding what to do… Hubby Dearest is ready to take me as and when I want.