h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

A bit ago, I was sitting here at the 'puter, with Joseph laying on the couch (I have to monitor his breathing). I turn to look at him, and suddenly he's sitting up, staring straight ahead, and blood is streaming down his face. It's f*cking four in the morning, and my reasonableness bailed a while ago, so I call his name to be sure he's conscious. He is, of course, and its just a severe bloody nose, I'm guessing from the steroids he's on. Nevertheless, his stoic response to his own blood is much like his reaction to about anything, and sometimes it frightens me. The nihilistic philosopher in me can be d*mned; the mommy in me isn't prepared for his penetrating, world-weary eyes. I hope I do well by him. In my essay, I wasn't lying when I said that his great-uncle Ray and his father Ray are laid to rest in the same grave. I've never been much of a person for 'fate', but knowing how similar Joseph and I are, I fear that when he is an adolescent the fact that both of them died in their early 20s won't escape him. How will he, the third Ray, react during his wild, youthful days? I can only hope that the differences already apparent between him and his father, namely Joseph's realism and lack of manipulativeness, will persist into adulthood and that he will be a reflective, rather than a reactionary individual. In the meantime, I suppose the best I can do is continue to watch and adore him (and make sure he keeps breathing ).

I feel utter terror and panic every time one of my kids is unwell or has a small mishap. The responsibility you feel as a parent weighs heavier than any other feeling I have ever encountered.
But worrying over then serves no real purpose. Worrying doesn't magically cure any illness, mend broken bones or stop bleeding noses.
It is all so easy to wrap your children in cotton wool, keep them apart from any danger, because we instinctually want them to be safe, but this does so much more harm than good.

I have also always suffered with bad nose bleeds. As a child I was severely athsmatic, and given steriods regularly, then I had my nose broken, which didn't help. Even now I frequently wake up in a pool of blood. It's something that has never phased or worried me, just something you accept.

Don't coompare Joseph to his father or his uncle. Both may have dies at a young age, but for entirely different reasons. Josephs future is not already laid for him, he will make his own choices in life, using the wisdom passed down from his mother. He is not the third Ray, he is Joseph, your son. Have no fear for his future, because to worry about the unknown if futile.
All you need to do is love him. Everything else will fall into place from that.

Love for all three of you. Make sure you take care of yourself too, Nyssa.

I've just got up, and that's the first posting I have read...

Least it was only a nosebleed and not his face caving in! I've never had one personally, so they terrify me. There's something prominent about the sight of blood...*shudder*

Oh bloody hell.....Poor Nyssa+co.

for Joseph

B

Thanks. . After a bit of sleep (wow, my arm is sore from sleeping with a small child in the crook of my elbow <but mommies love that&gt I have a bit more perspective. It's daylight, and Josey is eating some breakfast and feeling fine (at least well enough to be a little imp ).

Re: Ray vs. Joseph. You're right; I'm paranoid. Nevertheless I *am* glad that we decided to call him by his middle name rather than 'ray.' . He looks like a Joseph anyway. Speaking of which, isn't it remarkable how children resemble whatever ramdon names we give them? I thought calling my girl Nyssa would just never settle right, so her legal name is Oliva Rosaline. Turns out of course, she is the *perfect* Nyssa.

It's an odd name, is Ray. Ray, to me, is the fat bloke next-door who's always cutting his front hedge.

B

Ray is the name of my grandpa and one of my uncles, both of whom are still around, so the name doesn't confer early mortality

*s at Master B*

Or the guy with the jam-jar spectacles and trousers pulled up to his chin; a Star Trek book under his arm and a pen behind his ear.

In the porno section of the video shop.

Yes, names are weird aren't they?
My mum's name was Olive (supposed to mean peace, certainly NOT in her case)!
My step-daughter's name is Rosalind (she's a real sweetie!)
I was "supposed to be a boy"(!sorry!) & since I wasn't, they gave me the closest female equivalent they could find.
I then changed it back to the boy's version (but spelt differently)
& now live with someone who started out with the male version (spelt differently again) who hated it & changed it to something completely different!

Hope Joseph's feeling better now (remind me to tell you my "funny nosebleed" stories sometime yes, they really ARE funny!

Take care of yourselves

Terri.

Well nothing can beat the fact that my RL name means "God's Gift"...

*arf*

And I was supposed to be a boy too.

Hehe..my boy name would have been Joseph Sean Leon..I picture a pimp, how about you?

Wellll...not to be morbid but I had a twin brother that died. His name was going to be Matthew! I was a product of many failed pregnancies and stuff...so the first baby was going to be a boy. Unfortunately, I didn't have a enis, so they named me after Natalie Wood...

Oops. Given away my name now...



I like Bob the Farmers real name too...

*pokes him if he is still subscribed*

It's pretty...

Wai-Gong?


It means Great Joy in chinese, make your own conclusions...

Well, Joy being a girl's name, I can only assume you must be a very effective transvestite.

B

*Very* effective.

VERY effective.