MiTEG's Journal: visiting the hospital emergency room

Friend called last week and had me pick her up from the hospital emergency room, but whenever I asked what was wrong she broke down in tears. Didn't know how to handle that (typical guy I guess) so I pretty much just stopped talking.

So I get a call again today, she's back in the emergency room but they're keeping her there on morphine. Asked if she needed to be picked up, no, so then I offered to come visit. So what do I bring? I guess an apple or something; not much else around here I can bring 'cept maybe hard drive.

Maybe I'll see the FedEx guy on the way out.

flowers

[Em Emalb]

Oh, and some advice.

Don't talk, just let her know that if she needs someone to talk to, you are willing to listen.

Don't feel like you need to do something, just being there is good enough.

Your shoulder

[perfessor multigeek]

As eM emalB pointed out, she most likely wants you, not stuff. The best thing you can offer are your time and the strongest conviction you can offer her that if she wants to tell you whatever the real issue is, you won't judge (at least not to her face), simply support, her.
Of course, a sweater of something like that that feels comfy and she can wear is always a good thing to bring along in a bag such that you don't have to say, "here, this is for you" but if the issue comes up, you can pull it out. And never underestimate the utility of bottled water, semi-healthy munchies, and a package of pocket Kleenex paks (what is that, eight of them?)
Weird thing to keep in mind (at least to me as a guy), if you have a sweater/sweatshirt/whatever that she would like that you have worn once of twice since you washed it (in some non-sweaty way), bringing that may actually be better then something just washed. It'll smell like you. I have found that to be a major useful variable. If she trusts you enough to call you about something like this then she would probably like being bundled up in something that has a bit of your scent.
Good luck; that situation can be a really tough one.
Rustin

Re:Your shoulder (-1, offtopic)

[Hemi Rodner]

As eM emalB pointed out..

Hehe.. Thanks for explaining. I always wondered what's the meaning of his nick. I thought it's an Arabic name or something.