Whitney McBride is in big trouble. She doesn't know it yet, but she's fallen over an emotional edge and landed in the middle of a psychiatric hospital.
Most people would say Whitney's done for, but she's got a searing sense of humor and she loves a good fight.She gets some serious sleep for the first time in five nights, and writes a letter to a friend:
"The admitting nurse said her name was Martha. She seemed sympathetic, so I told her about everything-speed limits; safety pins; football helmets; sunscreens; tourniquets; fire alarms; air bags, and overdue fines."
Whitney negotiates her way around psychiatrists, nurses, therapists, aides, and fellow patients, and somehow she keeps her wits about her.
She tells her friend:
"I've been here for about a month now, but please don't let that scare you-everything is copacetic-I get three hots and a cot and a pile of good drugs every day. Besides, they serve a mean hot pastrami on rye with a kick-ass side of slaw."Even in the middle of total chaos, Whitney sees the good in everything. As she tells her friend:
"My husband brings me wonderful books all the time, which is a real blessing, since visitors often ask how I got here and, thanks to him, I've always got a good story in the palm of my hand."
So, stick with Whitney as she rides a psychiatric roller-coaster with laughter, tears, courage and love.Oh, and try not to worry about Whitney too much-she's got a damn good story, and she lives to tell about it.
