Real elegance is everywhere, especially in the things that don’t show…Christian Dior

It was going to be a happy day. After months of being in and out of rehab, my brother-in-law was returning home. His current rehab center was about an hour away from me, so I was a bit late in getting there to do all the discharge baloney.

Nonetheless, they called me when I was 10 minutes away from the facility, as his wheelchair transport was already there. The transport driver was ready to go and wanted to leave before I arrived.

“Is he dressed and ready to go?” I asked the discharge nurse.

“Yes, they are just waiting for you to get here and sign the papers.”

“Well, if he’s ready and they can’t wait 10 minutes, he can get going and I’ll be there to gather his things and sign,” I replied.

“If you’re only 10 minutes away,I’ll see if they can wait,” said the nurse.

“Either way is fine with me,” I pleasantly replied…after all, it was a happy day.

I arrived in less than 10 minutes, and went into his room to gather his things.

There was my BIL in his bed, in a hospital gown, just shrugging his shoulders when he saw me.

Right behind me followed the discharge nurse.

“I thought you said they were transporting him home?”

“Well, the transport driver said he heard you were going to be an hour late, so he left.”

“Where would he hear that? Twitter? Facebook? The Huffington Post? I literally just told you I was 10 minutes away!”

“I don’t know,” said the nurse, “but that’s what the front desk said when I told them to send up the driver.”

“Okay,” I responded incredulously and losing my pleasant disposition ever so quickly, “but you told me he was dressed and ready to go. He’s in a hospital gown.”

“Well, that’s dressed,” he said a bit defensively.

Now, granted, this is a rehab facility. Fashion is not the highest order of the day. And if you’re not running around the hallways, or eating in the dining room, a hospital gown may be your couture du jour. However……..

“Ummm…….no….that is NOT dressed for someone who is going home in a wheelchair and right to the dining room at his home, for his meals. I’m pretty sure no one wants a Sharon- Stone-Basic-Instinct  reveal from a hospital gown , while having their salad course. It brings a whole new meaning to ‘dining al fresco.’ You need to get him dressed in his clothes which are in his closet here.”

To which my brother-in-law pipes up: “I’m a bit chilly.”

Ya’ think?

“You just have to Laugh…………”

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7 thoughts on “Real elegance is everywhere, especially in the things that don’t show…Christian Dior”

  1. Your comment was not a “snapchat” and still appears. Much like that damn gown which was not fit for anything, if you know what I mean. Bill Spencer, please come live with me and keep me sane. I’m sure my husband will be fine with it. We are, empty nesters, after all.

  2. I think John Chamberlin would have summed this up perfectly with his catchphrase.

    1. Bill Y Do you mean “If you got the scale right, size doesn’t matter?” Because size still matters, especially to us gals, and especially when the fit is just wrong!

    1. Michelle, I”m only telling you this…but that happy day lasted less than 6 hours before he was right back in the hospital…grrrr is so right on!

  3. I appreciate the irony here since one meaning of “habilitate” is “to clothe,” but really before I can weigh in with a considered Fashion Police opinion, I need more details.

    The word “gown” sounds promising, but what was the gown’s length? material? color? pattern? neckline? Did it tie in back? If so, were the ties tied into bows? Who is the designer? And from what collection? And how was the gown accessorized? Socks? Shoes? Man bag?

    Please reply in well under 10 minutes. Otherwise, this comment will have already disappeared.

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