Well, that was fun

I just got home from an wonderful evening in the local ER

I had the joy of experiencing my second ever kidney stone.

I hope it was my last.

My first was this last Christmas

on the day after Christmas

while we were vacationing in Oregon.

I don't recommend the experience.

Thankfully, I have a wonderful neighbor and friend who was willing to drop everything and take me to the hospital.

I am so grateful for modern pain medications!

The pain of a kidney stone is just...unbearable.

I make noises, cry, moan, throw up, get on all fours in the hospital hallway 

and basically make a fool of myself

without caring one darn bit.

My good friend laughed at me several times.

I still love her.

She managed to make me crack a smile a time or two with her stories and attempts at distracting me.

She even sent a text to my kids

at my request

(once the medicine had started to kick in)

Here is what I said to my children, through her:

Your mother is in the ER with a kidney stone in horrible pain!

It reminds her of labor!

If she does not get a Mother's Day card for the pain you have given her over your lifetime

she will write you out of the will and cry all night long.

I am nothing if not subtle.

But, in my defense, I was on narcotics at the time.