More

Reynolds Price, I think, tells the story of asking God how much more pain he'll have to face. God simply says more.

Let me tell you about my "more."

I came home from work and had to ask movers to move the ramp that was blocking the entrance to my condo. They did, and I went in.

It stunk. Mom and I thought it was just the diaper pail I use for Claren, so I fed Claren while Mom sprayed Lysol. I included in Claren's dinner some rice because she had been having some loose stools.

Diarrhea loose, it turns out. The diaper pail did not stink, so Mom and I wandered around looking for the culprit. Mom found it: several piles of muddy poop on the rug in the back room.

While she cleaned, I took Claren out where she promptly lost her dinner. It ran right through her. I actually was able to bag most of it, which I then ran over on my way back to my condo. You see, to avoid the mover ramp, I went out a back doorway that is at the end of a narrow hall so I was holding the bag close.

Mom came and cleaned my wheel and the walk where I ran over the bag. Then I made a vet appointment and asked mom if I could come home with her. I just was overwhelmed. Plus, Mom and Dad would help if Claren had another accident.

I had to get the movers to move the ramp again and the traffic was miserable, but we got to my folks' house, home. My sister brought her two kids over to say hi, to let me know they cared and to let my niece show off her Supergirl Halloween costume, which may be the coolest thing I have ever seen.

After they left, I kind of lost it. They were tears of joy, though, sort of. I am so loved, and people put up with such crap (literally) for me. It makes me feel guilty and wonderful at the same time.

And my sister came back after dinner, and another sister called to check in and mentioned something about my 13-year-old nephew making out with an 18-year-old. I must have misheard something, but even so I am jealous. And my other sister emailed.

I guess all I can do is follow the advice of my 2-year-old nephew (who may get a Batman costume, which has the potential to be cooler than Supergirl). When my sister told him I was sad and having a bad day, he said to tell me "to take a deep breath."