Everything's Coming Up Roses!

I forgot to tell you, Merle has had more, even more tests done and there is absolutely not one darn thing wrong with him---physically anyway.

Last summer/fall, he had blood tests, colonoscopy, tread mill test, wore a Holter heart monitor, had a ultra sound on his heart, Doppler on his carotid arteries, MRI's (plural that is)-from head down to his feet,  Nothing wrong with him.

So, he still doesn't feel well and sort of shuffles when he walks, and sleeps a lot.  So, three months ago he had even more extensive tests done.  CAT scan on his brain.  The most up-to-date cancer testing.  More blood work done, looking for Lyme Disease, West Nile Virus, Meningitis, you name it, they searched for it.  Two more MRI's from head to foot.  Urine collection.  Kidney tests.  Bladder tests.  Liver scan.  Gall Bladder ultra sound.  Scope to look at his Prostate gland.  Endoscopy into his lungs.  Sleep Apnea overnight study.  

There is not one thing wrong with him and all docs and specialists told him, he'll probably live into his nineties!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Does this make he and Pearl overjoyed?  Nope.

He still drags around and she's still mad because he isn't 50 anymore.

I suggested to Pearl that I think he should take an anti-depressant.  Just a mild one--Celexa--like I take.  Pearl's response was, "He isn't going insane!  He doesn't have mental illness!"

I tried to explain that Merle had a big shock last year when he came to realize that he was no longer capable of lifting heavy things, working as much as he always had, that mowing the lawn makes his legs tired and that his balance is off.  I said, "That was probably a hit to his manhood and it probably didn't help that you kept telling him, 'you just aren't the man I have always known. I didn't expect you to end up this way!' "

I quietly said to her, "Psychologically, that could put him in a very depressed mood.  His symptoms of sleeping a lot, not wanting to go anywhere anymore, not talking very much, that is typical of depression.  A lot of people have depression..especially when they get older."

*crickets

Guess I'm done with that too and now when she tells me how, "I just hate him anymore.  He won't talk to me, he doesn't want to do anything, he just sits in his chair like a lump! He is not the man he has always been, and I don't like him this way!"  

I just reply, "Oh?"

She didn't realize he was going to get old?
She still thinks he should act like he did when he was 20?
She won't let him quit work?

Looney Tunes!
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So--the Roses part? (up in the title)

Yesterday, I took a couple of hours to figure out my budget.  Not the budget of the last few years, but a newer one--a separate one, which includes the work I do for My Sweet Girl, Chris.

I have gone back to the way I once operated--budget-wise.  A certain amount of my "pay" will go into my checking account.  The rest will be divided into envelopes--for the rest of my car repairs in the spring.  For my glasses.  For the doctor bills still present in my life. For miscellaneous--because for the last three years, my Budget has had no Misc. money.  (Hair cut.  Eating out.  New shirt. Ink jet cartridges. Kids birthdays. Pizza delivery) Those things I need, but don't have room for in my normal Budget.

AND I know myself well enough that if, I put all my work related $$$ into my checking account, it would soon be spent on something stupid.  I do best working with envelopes for certain emergency type things I will need.  I never Rob Peter to Pay Paul that way. It's untouchable until I have enough to pay for what I need.

I figure, if I continue to work for Chrissy, until I am 85-87 years old--I just might get all my debts paid off!  HAH!

Anyway, you just can't imagine the weight that has been taken off my mind.  I'm no longer not as scared anymore.  
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