Night of the Comet

I was checking my mom out of rehab and into assisted living by six o'clock.  I can leave work at three, and the rehab was in Duluth.  I asked to leave early from work, asked to leave when the kids got out and drove like a bat out of hell to Duluth.  Part of me fantasized about ESCAPE JANET, like I was busting her out of a place, releasing her from some sort of jail.  But then I reminded myself that she should be there, getting help, but she wouldn't. 

The assisted living really said I had to get her in there by a certain time.  And, they said they would put furniture in her apartment so that she would be comfortable until I could move the rest of her stuff over.  We made it.  That's all that I can say is that we made it.  I drove like hell, got my mom out of rehab, paid her bill and got her to her new apartment that was outfitted very nicely.

But, I guess I can tell you one part, Kitty.  My mom kept talking about one "really nice gal" that she had made friends with in rehab.  My mom laid on her ass and got this "nice gal" to bring her food, etc. She had been in rehab multiple times.  When I picked my mom up, this woman busted out, to meet me.
"I'm Hayley!"  some junky ass white meth woman said.
"So now, we are Holly, Hilary and Hayley!"  she contnued.
"Yeah, thanks." I responded and picked up my mom's bags.  How much did you give her, mom?  was all that I could think.  And, yeah, put her on the same level of your daughters that are killing themselves over you.  

I brought sheets and blankets and made my mom's bed.  I had washed everything at her house because it smelled horrible.  I brought her TV because I was terrified of her getting bored and trying to leave.  I went out and bought little things and brought them back, toilet paper, a six pack of Cokes, I put the snacks I had gotten from her house and put them in the fridge.  I saw this Valentine's Day bouquet and looked at the price.  It was almost twenty dollars.  I felt guilty about not wanting to spend it.  Then, I thought of my birthday, of Christmas, of everything  and walked away.  But, I did buy her a bag of chocolates.  

And oh, we did make it.  It was a success.  

As I walked into the parking lot, I got a hot mess phone call from work.  At seven at night.  They didn't know what to do with the county visit coming up, because our school is back on the shit list.  I stood there, in the parking lot, walking them through it.  And honestly, I hoped the whole earth would open up and take me, or them, or honestly, anyone.