Deanna and I used to sit at my kitchen table laughing about all sorts of super silly and monumentally unimportant things. One day, we somehow got on the subject of women being hospitalized but without access to things most women deem important.
Wait. I take that back.
Not so much life-or-death important. But like, first world important. You know, like, if you were in the hospital and couldn't talk.
Yeah. That.
"I think everybody needs a girlfriend list," she said one day. "Like this list that one of your best girls knows she needs to quickly jump on the minute she hears about your unfortunate news."
Petty, I know. But dead serious.
Mmmm hmmm.
We settled on five of them that we considered absolutes for girlfriends going to see girlfriends in the hospital.
Like to hear 'em? Here they go:
5. Alcohol and cotton balls
Her: "Girl. If you been up in the club and got a hand stamp? It ain't a good look to have a big ass green star on the back of your wrist when your mama come to see you. I'm just saying."
4. Alternate underwear
Her: "Uggh. I heard folks in the hospital don't have on underwear half the time because they don't really have too many options available."
Me: "Yeah. They pretty much have two kinds -- 'you just had a baby so let me give you something to hold this pad' kind and 'underwear? BWAAAAAH HA HA HA.'"
Her: "Make sure I have some damn drawers, you hear me?"
3. A good toothbrush, comb/brush, and deodorant
Her: "Have you ever seen those hospital toothbrushes? And those little tiny combs? What do they think somebody with a bunch of hair is gonna do with that?"
Me: "Deodorant, too. I never really see deodorant in the hospital kit."
Her: "What the? Girrrrrrl. Bring that, too."
2. Nail Polish remover (and those same cotton balls from before) and some Vaseline
Her: "I went to see a friend of mine in the hospital once and the nails on her hands and feet looked so crazy. She'd been picking at it and I could barely pay attention for wanting to get the rest off."
Me: "And maybe some Vaseline to smooth on your hands and legs so you won't be ashy."
Her: "No! For your lips! That same girl had the crustiest lips I have ever seen. Add that to the list."
1. Tweezers and a good razor
Her: "Dude. Can you imagine being knocked out and waking up with a goatee on your face?"
Me: "Actually, I see it all the time."
Her: "Somebody better come pluck those hairs!"
Me: "I think this one is the most important of all, man."
Her: "Or shave 'em, you know, if that's your situation and all. Oh! And get those armpits while you're at it."
Me: "You'll really need the deodorant then."
Her: "Girrrrrrrrl."
*laughter*
These are the sorts of important things we'd discuss when hanging out. And you know? Since I'm working on the hospital service right now, I know that there's definitely some girlfriends slipping on their jobs.
Ha.
Oh yeah. We did add in contact lens case, solution, and glasses--but couldn't make that an absolute since so many folks got Lasik surgery now.
What else do you think needs to be on the Girlfriend (in the hospital) List?
***
Happy Sunday
Speaking from experience and not necessarily in order. IF I am alert, these are important...
ReplyDelete1. Shampoo - that Aloe Vesta body wash/shampoo combo does nothing for me but make the need for Vaseline go to the top of the list. I need some Keracare Humecto shampoo and conditioner. If I can't walk - find a nice nurse or aid on the night shift that will roll my bed to the shampoo bowl in the OR (it happens).
2. Scarf, brush, Flat iron and Hair clip - a girl's got to be presentable. YEP
3. Phone charger - If I'm alert, I gotta keep in touch with everyone
A warm blanket, sweatpants, t-shirts, food that tastes better than the garbage in the hospital, and books. Lots of books.
ReplyDeleteHeck, if I had all those things I might be happier being a patient in the hospital than working there every day!
(Not really. I count my blessings to be healthy.)