I am eight years old which makes my sister three or four. We are not at our own home and are not accustomed to this Sunday morning frenzy. People and things are everywhere in this house that was hodge-podged out of a double-wide trailer. At some point rooms were added here and there and people … Continue reading
Filed under Anna …
Dark Night
On your way to the main door of the hospital, you walk down a sidewalk that is bordered by shrubs and grasses and flowers. Eight weeks ago, when I first began coming here daily, I was consumed with gratitude for these elements of nature. The flowers at that time were almost aggressive in their beauty … Continue reading
Underwater
This week we were granted a window – a glimpse into Real Anna. On Monday we had an authentic exchange where she let me talk, offer words of comfort and help her puzzle through some things. She responded appropriately with shocking clarity and insight into her life. On Tuesday, she was Anna. We sat and talked … Continue reading
Not Better
There is this conversation I’ve had that has repeated itself several times over the past few weeks: Hey, how’s your sister doing? Well, honestly, not good. Oh… Yeah, I mean, she’s better than she was two weeks ago but not better than she was when she first went into the hospital. So… …oh, wow. That … Continue reading
Visiting Hours: anatomy of a visit to the Mental Health Unit
The first difference you notice is that you take a left off the elevator where everyone else takes a right. You walk through a set of double doors into a long hallway where you always walk alone. It is cold and the hall is wide. The walls are white and bare, in stark contrast to the other … Continue reading
