The Power of 'A Woo Woo Woo Woo Woo'
When I was a kid, I hurt my finger. I can't even recall how, now, but I howled the way kids do, blowing a small pain way out of proportion. To downplay the drama, my father started to mock my cry, turning it into a theatrical 'a woo woo woo woo woo', until I started to laugh. That became a running joke for years. Forty bloody years, no less. Perhaps more. I can't recall how old I was. To this day, if one of us starts to complain unnecessarily, there will be a chorus of 'a woo woo woo woo woo'. It's a reminder that what ever we are complaining about needs a little perspective.
Today, I visited my Dad in hospital where he was having his lung reattached to the wall in his chest because he had a helluva lot of excess fluid and pain. Since the operation, he's been hallucinating on ketamine, but by the time I saw him, he had come down a little and had hit that miserable time in hospital where you get no sleep are are in constant hell. The food, he said, excusing his french, was 'fucking awful', the night nurses had terrible bed side manners, and when they said they'd be five minutes, they'd take five hours. His dinner came an hour late, and then he had no cutlery, so by the time the utensils got to him, it was cold.
Then he started saying he wished he'd never started the cancer treatment that started six years ago. After chemo, a drug trial, and finally Car-T, he was cured of cancer but had a whole host of other issues that were, most likely, a direct result of that. After that, he started reminiscing about his childhood, particularly his older brother who had always been a bit of a prick (that's a whole other story) and Dad hadn't been able to stop going over a few events that led to him almost having a nervous breakdown. He had thought long and hard about it, he said, but wouldn't even go to his funeral.
There was a lot to listen to, and a lot to lend a sympathetic ear and jolly him on with a bit of well-person positivity. It's unusual for Dad to be like this. It's just his defences are down because of the pain, and being bloody fed up with how bad things have got.
Dad in healthier times, in his favourite plant jungle.
Plus, he was pissed off that he heard the nurses call him elderly in the corridor. He believed that 80 was elderly.
'Dad' I said gently. 'That's only four years away'.
He looked at me, clearly recognising he was in a rabbit hole of complaining (even though he was probably justified) and suddenly said the words.
'A woo woo woo woo woo'.
Clearly, he still had his sense of humour.
With Love,
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I think we are allowed to complain every now and again, we need it actually, better than carrying all that with you.
You dad certainly earned the right to express his annoyance amd grievances, he has been through a lot.
Sorry to hear about this recent complication, it sounds pretty full on.
Sending you a hug xxx
it's so good we have Hive as a release xxxxx
Ps love the woo woo woo woo woo
He bloody well does have the right to complain. We were very patient and supportive listening to him, but at the same time, our job is to nudge him toward perspective. I talked him into getting some noise cancelling headphones so he can listen to tunes in middle of night so his head doesn't go to wierd and sad places. He doesn't need that on top of physical pain. Poor Dad..
That's the way your father turns your pain to something with a sense of humor; to let you avoid the feeling of being big when it's small; of being heavy when it is light. That's why, even if his own physical problem later is huge, he would let you feel that it is as it was when you were hurt once. He shows that he can carry it despite difficulty...
He's so brave. Most of the time he handles all this with strength and grace. Yesterday was a day he needed to be weak. Vulnerability is also incredible strength.
Sending positive vibes to your dad for a speedy recovery and back to his fit
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STOPI know how horrible things can get in hospital and I'm glad he's still able to communicate and actually laugh at himself. I hope things go much better and he's out of there soon.
Thanks love. Xxx I would hate to be in his shoes..
It is great we can keep our sense of humour, my mother did something similar and boo hoo boo hoo became our family theme. Still keeping my fingers crossed for him River
You know I thought it was a little mean for a while, but it really is a kind nudge to help us gain perspective. 💕
Oh yes I thought it was mean and rude at first 🤣
Sorry to hear about your dad. It's difficult seeing our folks grow old and deal with such ailments. Here's to a quick recovery and brighter days ahead.
So sorry to hear your dad is going through so much. Life isn't fair 😔. I happen to think NC headphones are a brilliant idea! I hope they make it all a little more bearable. And your dad has a f*cking brilliant sense of humour, might I add 😂. He sounds like an awesome human. Big loves to you all, Riverflows !LUV !Hug !Lady
ps: I wrote x
I sent 1.0 HUG on behalf of @samsmith1971.
(1/3)
He is. He is home!!!!! How fast you can go from half dead to doing okay. Now jut waiting for the biopsy. I have the SONY noise cancelling ones - he got the same as he's a big SONY fan. First album he listened to them on? Pink FLoyd. He always listens to the dark side of the moon whenever he gets new stereo equipment.
@riverflows, @samsmith1971 just sent you LUV. (3/5)
A sense of humor never disappears, it remains in cheerful souls despite the circumstances.
Chemo is terrible, it supposedly cures cancer but it's just like having to live with a sickness.
My dad is 70 and says he feels 40 and I believe him because I am 44 and feel 24 😆😅.
Hahah well that's good going!
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