...of lying on the roadside

Back at my hotel room, I snuggled into my bed and called Anton. We didn’t talk long because my throat ached, but I did get to briefly tell him that there were a lot of things that I wanted to be, but a hermit had NOT been one of them!

Sleep seemed to be as fundamental as breathing; it required no conscience effort. I had not realized how much I’d been sleeping until it dawned on me that I had been watching the same movie for six hours. Slumber literally snuck up on me. There were times I had not realized that I fell asleep. I woke up to see credits rolling so I hit rewind and tried again. I woke up to the same thing two more times! Neither hunger nor bladder relief visited me, just sleep. I knew that I needed to do both regardless of my body not asking for it. So, peeking out of my door and down the hall, I grabbed my key and made my way to the bathroom. I made it quick. However, when I passed a mirror, my feet became tiled. My image was
H-O-R-R-I-B-L-E! It looked as if I’d had no sleep, my hair clung to my scalp and my neck reflected evidence of being wrapped in a tourniquet! Before getting caught up in physical mayhem, I thought it best to return to my room.

On my way back, the housekeeper and I crossed paths. Obviously shocked, (she stared awkwardly for a very long second before snapping out of it), she grabbed my arm and asked, “Dang girl! What happen to you?” She is Filipino so the inflection of her voice sounded more taunting than concerned. Besides that, I knew she was expressing worry. I told her about the radiation, expecting her to step away from the radioactive girl and feelings of an isolated leper to come back, I moved forward. But her hold on my arm tightened while the other rested on my hip as she asked what she could do. I honestly didn’t know what I wanted her to do. Sensing this, she inquired about my nourishment intake. I’d planned to order something when I got back to the room but she thought that was the most appalling thing ever! “No! I get you food. Good food huh.”

Of course I played the docile card, but it was sincere, by telling her that I was cool and didn’t mind ordering in. I mean really, come on, why would she do that for me? Yeah we talked here and there before I went into the hospital but she didn’t have a clue as to whom I really was. She didn’t even know before this time why I was there. I never offered the details and she didn’t ask! Anyhow, with her lips pursed in the direction her hand started pushing me she demanded me to “go there”, (my room), and she’d be back soon with food.

Of course I conformed! Did you think I didn’t? :)

True to her oath, awhile later there was food-better than good, IT WAS HOMEMADE FILIPINO CUISINE!!! She explained to me that she asked her husband to bring it up there when he came to pick her up. Her shift had ended but she asked if I needed towels or washcloths before she left. I didn’t so she told me that the next day was her day off but she would love to come and get me to have Thanksgiving with her family. I had to decline because of my post-ablation instructions, she understood but offered to bring me a meal. I declined that offer as well because during the time I waited for her a Sister from the local congregation called to tell me that she and her husband planned to bring a plate from the congregation’s Thanksgiving fellowship meal. “Well I bring some Friday for you,” is how she responded.

“…But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him…” Luke 10:25-37 NIV