Choler

Well, life reared its sometimes ugly head yesterday and altered my plans for my post for A to Z today.  So I'm going  to 'wax lyrical' about the word choler.

My father-in-law had a knee operation years ago (before I met him).  An infection set up in his right knee afterwards which necessitated the amputation of his leg just above the knee.  He was fitted with a prosthetic and used it for years, getting around pretty much as well as people with both legs.  Then  he got arthritis in his various joints and needed to use a pair of crutches.  Several more years of that and he needed a wheelchair for longer distances.  Last year he moved to using a wheelchair all the time.

He lives about 5 minutes from his mother's house.  Every day he would go over on his four-wheel ATV to check on her and help out as he could.  Eventually Mamaw needed round-the-clock care.  The closest nursing home would not take her because, well, she kind of had a mouth on her.  She was an old, sometimes-uncomfortably-plain-speaking hillbilly woman.  I never heard the "f"-word come out of her mouth, but she made liberal use of most of the other swear words known to man.  Truth be told, she did not want to go to a nursing home anyway.

FIL's (father-in-law's) older brother then moved back into Mamaw's house to help with the day-to-day care.   He has asthma and a heart condition, so a lot of time he needed assistance himself.  Uncle himself has been known to be difficult; if he were not family, we would probably actively avoid contact with him.

The point is, FIL would go over at least once a day, most often two-three times, even more if needed, on his ATV, down his driveway, through the stream, up the hill, across the field to Mamaw's house because family does for family.

Two weeks ago, Mamaw passed away.  Uncle is in the hospital in bad shape.

Yesterday, FIL's wife drove him to a doctor's appointment.  Due to his arthritis and a somewhat recent mini-stroke, FIL does not drive anymore.  While they were out ...

...SOME IDIOT MUTHAF'IN SOB STOLE FIL'S ATV!!!!

What absolutely makes my blood boil is that it has to be someone who knows my FIL, and knew he was out of the house yesterday.  While the house is out of view of the road, there is no way to approach the house and not be seen.  There are two dogs who are not vicious, but who will bark up a storm if anyone not family approaches.  If it had happened while they were home, there is no way the thief or thieves would not be detected.  And FIL has said several times, "If you find a gun in my house, assume it is loaded."

My husband was so mad he was shaking.  He took a surveillance camera up to his Dad's house and installed it, so they could see if someone comes back.  Our daughter went with him, to make sure he didn't do anything foolish.

So, whoever took the ATV has basically bound my disabled FIL to his house.  I'm so mad I could spit.

I know the situation will be resolved.  I know the fire burning inside me will eventually subside and I will begin a process of trying to forgive the thieves ... but that might take a couple of days.

Thank you for letting me vent.