My Plans: It is 10:30 a.m. and our daughter is at day two of DSO. Last word from her came yesterday afternoon when a 3:24 P.M. text buzzed my way. “My day went well,” followed by a phone chat informing me that she is missing her watch and one doggy patterned sock. Please deliver. So far no watch has surfaced but have located the doggy sock. Deep breath, don’t want to check in. Just want to return to my life; seeing patients, cleaning up laundry room after paint job, writing, and searching for inspiring Thanksgiving dishes. Not easy, that last one.

Fingers Crossed: Maybe I will get away with this plan. The day is still young and most likely I will hear from ABD staff as well as the DSS case manager with a follow-up regarding the Medicaid coverage delay. Last night my book club/former baby group came over for our monthly schmooze and after clear out and clean up I went off to bed pretty worn. A half hour ago, the doorbell rang whereupon I had to sign for a FedEx envelope addressed to my husband, then finished dressing and proceeded to clean up the few dishes from the morning meal. As I was tossing out the coffee dregs in the garbage, I found the Fed Ex envelope there, unopened and now smeared in Starbucks’ Sumatra grinds. I construe from this that I am in need of down time. I am going to pretend that our daughter lives very far away and is fine. Wish me good luck.

©Jill Edelman, M.S.W., L.C.S.W. 2011