Horrors

Has Fiorella ever told you that she was once diagnosed as having multiple sclerosis? It was scary, of course, but she marched onward because she didn't know what else to do. After all, she had a family, was teaching at UT, and was president of the Austin Council of PTA. (Several years of survival later, the diagnosis was lifted).

Has Fio ever told you that her first pregnancy ended in a nasty three-month miscarriage and that, leaving a trail of blood behind her, she had to climb up to the top floor of the hospital to find her doctor because he had forgotten to arrange for someone to meet her at the first floor back door as he'd said he would?

Has Fio ever told you that, even though she was recovering from eye surgery and could barely see, her college department head demanded she drive forty miles up the Interstate to be questioned about her teaching performance, which, according to student evaluations, was stellar? As it turned out, the head honcho and her co-conspiritor were  planning a re-do of the English department which involved canning all experienced teachers and replacing them with newly minted college graduates--so there went Fiorella's job. (Update: the new girls quit at mid-term.)

Of course, you've already heard about the horrible day that Fio's kitchen ceiling rained on her while she was talking to Friend Suzy in England. You'll probably also remember the horrible and very expensive month-long plumbing repair job and the added complication that your girl was undergoing extensive orthodontic surgery at the same time. Maybe you'll also remember the recent soaking too, but this time, the plumber (a different one) nailed the culprit--the leak around Fiorella's beloved soaker tub--which has since then been carefully recaulked.

Fiorella's final horror is of her own making--she didn't realize Wendy Dog (Sonja's predecessor) had a real problem and, instead of taking her darling to the vet, encouraged her to play. By the time Fio and Husband realized what was going on, it was too late 😢