My uncle called this afternoon and said that my grandpa is in the hospital. Of course my first thought was that he was dead, or someone was dead, or would be very shortly (because that’s just the way things have worked lately…the phone rings, someone’s probably dead). My uncle, of course, leaves a very vague message that basically just says, “Your grandpa is in the hospital. But you really can’t do anything about it, not to mention how annoying it is that I can’t give you any information about it.” My grandpa is 90. A freaking ear infection is cause for concern if you ask me. So, I would kind of appreciate not receiving messages from family members or friends that contain the words ICU, chest pain, or anything comparable. Please get me directly. I don’t like sad voicemail. Call 37 times at 5:30am if you must. (Please don’t take advantage of the fact that I said this. I am forgiving at first, if it becomes a habit…well…those of you who know what I am like when I wake up will tell you…)

C was nice enough to try and get some information from the nurse in the ICU but was unsuccessful, but I called back and found out that:

He was brought in yesterday with chest pain.
They have ruled out a heart attack.
It could be his stomach or his gall bladder. Or something else entirely.
They are keeping him overnight again.

Being that I was calling a hospital in the sticks of the Upper Peninsula, I didn’t expect to find much out. But at the very least, I know no one is dead. Which is always good.

The thing about it is, I have been having a feeling that something was wrong lately. Just every once in a while, since he left for the UP for the summer, I have felt like I should check in on him and make sure everything is okay. It might just be because, ever since my grandma died, I have worried about him more than before. Even though, for as long as I can remember, I have been plagued with dreams that he’s dying or has just passed. So, naturally, with these kinds of dreams since I was small, I freak out when he sniffles.

Funny how I never even considered what would happen if the seemingly immortal grandma died…and she went first. And now I just panic more. So, I have pretty much spent the last two hours sitting silently every so often, pushing a tear away with my fingertips, hoping that no one has noticed.