Today was Mom's disability hearing. At this point it frankly just a formality and basically that's what we attended. I was prepared to testify but I didn't do anything but go in and give my name. Mom rattled on and on completely lost, however it didn't seem to matter as the court appointed "vocational expert" did his thing and said "nope she can't work" and the judge says "OK". It will be a few weeks before we get things finalized and she gets her back pay and an increase in her social security check. The biggest plus is she is now eligible for Medicare. I have no idea how to begin navigating that but I'll look into it in the next few days. I can't do anything till the paperwork is processed anyway.
While we were waiting around (if you've ever dealt with the SS admin it's some sort of law to wait around a lot) there was a Hmong family in the row of chairs in front of us. An older woman, her daughter in her late 20's, and two small granddaughters, one about 3, the other an infant. Mom in her creepy fashion of always playing with small children begins talking to the little girl. Not so bad, one could tell the little girl wasn't exactly thrilled but wasn't upset. Then Mom notices her mother's hair, stands up and starts playing with the mother's pony tail and commenting on her highlights! OMG! I glance at the paralegal trainee that was with the lawyer and she has an amazed look on her face, all I could do was roll my eyes that I did not approve. Props to the girl having her hair handled by a crazy lady she didn't respond badly at all. Personally I'd have had a fit if somebody I didn't know was running her hands through my hair. About this same time the movie Grand Torino with Clint Eastwood came to mind when Clint was instructed not to touch the children on the head (a Hmong cultural taboo) I googled later to double check, yep.
After the hearing we are walking back to the truck and mom fell in the middle of Wisconsin Ave in downtown Milwaukee. Nice. A truck driver jumped out of his truck to help but I managed to get her hoisted up pretty quickly and to the sidewalk. She wasn't hurt but was rattled. I guess she needed to prove she really was eligible for the disability. Tonight she hobbled over and had me tape her wrist. I have a hunch it's hurt and we will be going for an x-ray in the next few days.
Tomorrow is the last day of school. Kids are thrilled, me not so much. We are going to go up to the in-laws for a few days as well. It will be good to get away from all the needy chores staring me in the face for a while. Then again they will still be waiting on me when I get back.
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