that while they are not paying attention, I am taking notes

"If reasons were as plentiful as blackberries, I would give no man a reason upon compulsion, I." — Jack Falstaff

My Dad died a few days after I hurt my arm* at work. He was sick, right at the end, and ready to go. We had a funeral. I couldn't do the next two pressure-washing jobs that week, and relinquished the equipment — including the truck, my transportation. My family doesn't believe I'm hurt. They want me to get back to work. Jeff and Doug were shouting at me on Sunday. Mom is more subtle. Mom's questions are a cold knife.

And the word is against me, across the board and at all frequencies. If I can prove it's not true then it's unimportant. They don't want to help, and yet suppose that I should hear their critique, answer their questions.

And get back to work.

.

* It wasn't my arm, it was my neck. I had cervical radiculopathy, severe nerve compression of the c8 on the right side, plus other nerves up there. Doctor Michael Bell said "your neck is a mess." I had ACDF surgery in September 2021. Doug took me there and picked me up, but still neither he nor Jeff have ever showed any recognition that I'd had a legitimate problem. -- Summer 2018