I guess I hadn’t mentioned we hospitalized my oldest son two days ago for some kidney-related reconstructive surgery. The hospital he’s at is not that far geographically – just a few miles from Quito, down a windy road to the valley of Cumbayá. It is actually a part of our Metropolitan District now. Part of the road down is a three-lane either lane, but as it snakes down the mountainside it narrows to two lanes. And people fly, not drive down the road.
Quito now has a severe traffic problem. The photo below shows our “light” traffic, as we (my daughter and I) were leaving Quito at 7:30 a.m. An hour later this is bumper-to-bumper traffic. So it takes forever to get around.
Bus drivers in particular are not concerned with respecting traffic laws. Anywhere in the city (including highways), buses are supposed to stay in the right lane. Not his guy, though.
The hospital, on the other hand, is a peaceful oasis. Once inside the grounds you cannot hear the noise from the highway. Quite conducive to recovery, I would think. They also have some beautiful gardens.
And a tiny, but lovely chapel…
Anyway, I drove up and down to the valley several times today – between checking in on my son and talking to the doctors, then dropping my daughter off at the university, back up the hill to the bank and several errands, pick up my mother to do the grocery shopping, back down to the hospital, then halfway up to pick up my daughter… it’s been a long, hot day. On days like this one I wish I had a helicopter.
So good to be home now. I figured I deserved a nice cup of wine. So opened a bottle while I popped some cookies in the oven and made a very simple supper – some lovely leek soup. In between batches I even managed a cool shower!
I am now ready for my bowl of soup and still in time to catch the evening news! Oh, yes. The unusual color of the soup comes from a natural food coloring called achiote. It also adds lovely flavor.
I am a self-learner. I taught myself to sew and to quilt. And I taught myself how to draw. I am learning how to dye my own fabrics and am dabbling with mixed media. I am a quilt designer and teacher, and design and publish my own line of quilt patterns. With this blog I would like to share the bits and pieces of my life.
3 Comments
Your son
Submitted by peggy43 on Sun, 12/14/2008 – 12:38.
I do hope your son rocovers well. My son, Stephen, lost both kidneys 6 years ago due to a virus. It was a real rough couple of years as he developed severe nerve damage and resulting pain. Not one of my better days when I had him fitted for braces and bought him a cane at 30.
He had a transplant last Christmas and is doing wonderfully.
Peggy
Sharon=Florida Sorry to hear
Submitted by prudance2 (not verified) on Sun, 12/14/2008 – 13:49.
Sharon=Florida
Sorry to hear about your son. Hope he will be home for Christmas.
No one should be in the hospital ,this time of year.
Prayers are with your son and you and the rest of your family for a wonderful Christmas and prosperous New Year.
PS Thankyou soooo much for all the wonderful patterns you have given us this year.
Hope he’s getting well.
Submitted by ipraragon on Mon, 12/15/2008 – 12:10.
It’s really sad to have a beloved person in hospital at any time, more by this season, so I’m praying for him to get well soon, and you might have a nice Christmas altogether. Thanks so much for all that beautiful and useful ideas you share with us during the year, please keep doing this forward. I’ve seen in your travel map that you haven’t visited Guatemala yet, but looking at your traffic photos from Quito, I can tell you: It’s exactly the same, sometimes worst, but anyway, it will be nice if you include my warm and picturesque country in your “to visit” plans. Que Dios les bendiga a tí y tu familia en esta Navidad, y te dé salud para continuar tu labor el próximo año. Desde Guatemala, recibe un afectuoso abrazo,
Irene.