“Hi, Maga. It’s Abby.”
“Oh, Abby dear, hello! Are you on your way to the soccer game?”
“You are right on track with our schedule.”
“What’s that?”
“Yes, we are. I’m in the car now which is why I’m calling a bit earlier than usual. And which is why it’s a bit loud in the background.”
“I checked the Denver Post and couldn’t find out what channel the game would be on. Do you think it’ll be broadcast?”
“I imagine it would. But maybe on a cable channel like ESPN or something.”
“Oh, they wouldn’t have that listed in the paper. What time does it start?”
“7pm here, so 8pm there.”
We went back and forth about the time for awhile. I never was sure if she just couldn’t hear me or if my severely jet lagged, 4am wake up call brain was hindering my already tentative at best math skills, so I switched gears.
“What are your Thanksgiving plans?”
“J and P, flying home from Hawaii right now, will come over to the care center.”
“Oh, how wonderful!”
“Well, not really. The food they serve here will be for old people.”
“Well, yes. That’s probably true, so maybe focus on the company you’ll have instead.”
“Yes. Good point. I should do that. And how many will be there with you?”
“13. M already has the table all set and it’s gorgeous.”
“Oh my! That’s a lot. A packed house!”
We went over the details of the guests and, again, I think she guessed who was going to be there more than she could actually hear me. It was a combination of ambient car noise + the tone of my voice. She sometimes can’t hear my tone so instead of repeating myself, I have to think of another way to say something so the vowels and consonants rearrange into a deeper tone of voice she can hear.
Unfortunately this time, there were limited options on how to say the guests’ names.
“Oh, Abby. Hold on. There’s someone at the door. Yes, hello. Who are you, please?”
It was someone to take her blood, so I quickly tried to disengage before she could tell the person to come back later. It takes a village to raise a child, and, addendum, make sure the elderly (who have decades of making their own decisions) take proper care of themselves.
Because even though we won’t be at the same Thanksgiving table, I want to keep Maga’s (relative) good health on my list of things to be thankful for.
Abigail Mumford 