If you chose sharp tongued beration you will know that I am not a fully actualized human being quite as yet.

Who among us is, my friend.

Jacqueline's gentlest riposte ever. Delivered with absolutely no snark or anger, and perhaps even a touch of kindness... JZ: "Oh, look it's 8 o'clock. Visiting hours are over."

She's marvelous.

Still and always.

That sounds perfectly Jacqueline.

I still remember getting my NG tube inserted over a decade ago. It was traumatizing. My heart goes out to both of you.

It’s normal to be scared and panic and react poorly in the face of this. And her response was so perfect. I may start using that whenever anyone is testing my patience!! It’s such a perfect boundary setter.

I’ll continue epic tales of Nurse Renee when I’m back home. But I just brought Matilda in to see Jacqueline and there were much tears of reconnection. They are so happy to be together.

Last night when Jacqueline had her tube down her nose she said ruefully, “You can’t kiss me.”

And I said, “ Oh, I can kiss you!” And proceeded to do so all around her tube and on her cheek.

Then some nurses entered the room and she said “No, Nurses!” With exactly the intonation of Madeline Kahn’s “No tongues!” In Young Frankenstein.

I had to have a NG tube a long time ago when I needed activated charcoal and when they tried to give it to me orally I immediately threw up every time (I barely finished swallowing when it would come back up). It was an extremely traumatic experience for me on top of the already traumatic experience I was going through and I know that JZ didn't have to deal with the situation I did but it is really uncomfortable. Especially when a nurse is holding it and keeps moving back and forth but doesn't say anything so you're head gets yanked around by the NG tube.

JZ is really marvelous.

I’m so happy Matilda is able to be there.

Hec, you've been her hero. Nobody would expect you to always say the perfect thing, too, You have feelings, too, it's a lot.(and that is kind of a horrible thing that happened) Luckily, it wasn't your last moment. I'm not sure if it helps or not to say that I would have, most likely, done the same fucking thing. Despite a subcultural reputation for calm spirituality that I deserve less than any disabled human alive(except Larry Flynt or someone, perhaps.)

"Oh, I can kiss you."

"No nurses!"

Best...lines...ever.

can or should we nominated Nurse Renee for sainthood? Or something rewarding and ultra-appreciative?

You both have courage beyond imagining, but I'll continue to wish you comfort and strength. And love.

That is such a perfectly JZ response, and I love it.

If you chose sharp tongued beration you will know that I am not a fully actualized human being quite as yet.

Imagine, if you will, Pete telling me that I needed to rest, not do things, and stop apologizing for being a burden during the Exciting Back Adventure of 2019. Yeah. But when you're stressed about your loved one, helpless anger comes out however it can.

I'm so, so glad Matilda is able to be there.