The roller coaster chugs on...

Now a week a way from the frightening events that brought Katie to being admitted to a psychiatric crisis center, I am caught up on the edge of supporting her with everything I have and knowing that the decision to get better is hers alone. We are frustrated with HIPA laws, burdened with insurance tangles but almost giddy that she is alive.

Today I will be transporting her from the place where she has been for the last week to a better facility where individualized care will begin, much different than the, excuse the expression, 'One flew over the cuckoos nest" atmosphere that prevailed. The diagnosis I long suspected, bipolar disorder, depression, psychosis is a beginning. Right meds, counseling and God, the tripod of help begins. Will it work? I can only pray.

I have asked some of my close friends to keep an eye on me. I am calling for an appointment with my counselor today. Grieving Laurie's death has been put aside and I am on overload. Tonight I AM going to Grief Support; I know I must to retain some kind of sanity.

Friends continue to let us know they are here for us in any way needed. So good to know. And through all this, I still find reasons to laugh. Friday we honored my Dad (and Mom) by finally having their remains interred at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetary. (That's not the funny part!) The ceremony was beautiful; we were moved to tears several times. And then the part we know Dad would have loved: an actual 21 gun salute. Three rifle volleys from seven elderly soldiers, instructions to cover the little ones ears. These uniformed volunteers end with a flourish where they twirl their rifles around and slam the rifle down next to their feet. Fortunately for me because I would have burst out in laughter, I could not see but one of the rifles broke into two pieces as it was slammed down. The sweet soldier picked up the two pieces and never broke stride as they marched off. Our attendant said she had never seen that happen before...

And then, Friday early evening, I am off to get to the hospital to see Katie. Stopped at a light I am reading over some of her paperwork. After a minute I realize I am not paying attention and think the light had changed and just step on the gas. Oops. Light had just changed and I rear end the car in front of me. For crying out loud, anything else? The part that makes me laugh? It turns out our accident happened just inside our village limits and I have a minute to tell the policeman who I am, does he remember the Laurie Boncimino story from last year? Tell him where I am going and he goes into amazing compassionate mode. I almost thought he was going to yell at the guy I hit for backing into me! I am not worried about the ticket; I am acutely aware I need to be extra alert when I am driving...

Here we go into a new week. Better than last Monday when I was dry heaving from exhaustion and worry. A new week, a new beginning, I have a measure of peace.