The Sweet Husband

Sheryl and the Strawberries

God must have a special, special plan for me, or he was WAY overestimated my ability to get through all this without running down the street screaming.  My daughter Sheryl is 42 years old, paranoid schizophrenic, lives with me sometimes, but disappears and lives on the streets for years at a time.

At approximately 3AM my cell phone rings. Nobody calls at 3 AM unless they are in trouble, or someone has died.

I stumble over to the couch drop the phone twice because I am shaking so bad, the Sweet Husband  says, mama, let me answer it, I don't want you to answer it.

Well, we all know that's not going to happen, if my child is hurt I"m going to be the one answering the damn phone.

It is Sheryl calling, I am still shaking so bad I can't hit the button, finally, I answer the phone and don't even say hello, I say are you ok?

My child says, may I speak to the lady? I am thinking my voice is so shaky she doesn't think it's me. I reply, this is mom, Sheryl, the phone ringing scared me are you ok?

Sheryl: Is this the lady that lives in the house with the yard?

I am calming down now, yes Sheryl, this is your mother, and you called my phone at 3 AM

Sheryl: How many strawberries do you think I need to pick to be able to make jelly?

I'm going to get off the phone now, I don't know about the strawberries, maybe you can find out at the library, go there and get a recipe.

Sheryl: Ok will go there now.

Sheryl, they aren't open now, where are you?

Phone dead, she headed for the library I am assuming, I thought about heading to the liquor cabinet. Hey, it was 3AM,I forgot we didn't have one.