Tuesday, August 23, 2016

You’re right, of course. No one will notice Emmitt’s middle name, if he suppresses it. I amused myself while driving to the hospital yesterday by working out his relationship to Juliet O., above. My mother liked that sort of thing, and was good at it (as she was on grammar). James is keen on family history, but would rely on an app for the answer.

I think it’s “second cousin once removed”. Theo (my sister’s son, Emmett’s father) is a bit confusing, being midway in age between my own children (his first cousins) and my grandchildren (his first cousins once removed). It’s often difficult to remember which line in the imaginary chart to put Theo on. I kept wanting to assume that he and Juliet’s father were first cousins – but they’re not.

Mr and Mrs Hussain who run my admirable corner shop, are each other's first cousins. That means that their children are their own second cousins. There’s a thought for you.

Knitting

I’m doing the toe decreases for the second Vampire. It shouldn’t take long to polish them off today. I’ve decided to go on to a pair of socks for my brother-in-law. I turn out to have two skeins in the sock bag of Madtosh Whiskey Barrel in whatever her sock-weight is called. I meant to knit them for my husband, to match his sleeveless vest. But he doesn’t wear socks any more, just slippers.

Yesterday, at the hospital, I wound the first of those skeins into a ball – a risky operation, as I had occasionally to stand up to fetch a nurse or perform some other service, and every interruption risked an impenetrable tangle. But I got it done, and am ready to cast on.

No shawl knitting, of any sort, was accomplished. While I’m at the hospital, peacefully knitting socks and chatting, my internal monologue anticipates my activities for the rest of the day, when I get home. When it happens, I feel as if I have been hit by a wrecker ball and accomplish nothing.

More non-knit

I am grateful for yesterday’s comments. With the right equipment, and a redistribution of care, we ought to be able to get my husband home, even now. 

7 comments:

  1. Of course you need to guard your health as well as you can, but if you can see a way through all the problems and get what is needed to get himself home then I hope and pray it can be done. Even now. Especially now.

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  2. Although it will be stressful (and probably expensive) you will be glad when it's all over to know that you were able to arrange for him to have a peaceful last lap of life. Lots of equipment and lots of carer assistance are needed. But of course you already know that! I found that it was more stressful doing hours and hours of visiting in a hospital environment than being at home where, when my husband snoozed, I could do my own thing - even when I couldn't leave the house. I wish you well whatever you decide.

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  3. I am knitting socks with my first Madelinetosh yarn. I found a new LYS. Can you show us the Vampires?

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  4. Anonymous11:11 AM

    Emmet and Juliet are second cousins once removed (the grandchildren of two siblings are second cousins to each other)

    JennyS

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  5. Nothing useful to add, but you and your family are in my thoughts.

    And I have learned, through this thread, that my husband and I are (I think) third cousins, as our great-grandfathers were siblings.

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  6. The cousin thread reminds me of a conversation I once had with an African taxi driver. He was mystified that English had so few words to describe our relationship to others in the family.

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  7. I'm hoping things come together for you to bring your husband home, Jean. Your children are wonderful, and with their help and the help of some extra carers you should be able to pull it off. But please be careful to safeguard your own health, both mental and physical during what is going to be an incredible challenge. If possible start out with much more help than you think you could possibly need. You can always cut back if you need to. Hugs to you!

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