Monday, February 23, 2009

Why is an eighty year old taking care of me?

Okay, so here is a story for you. During my vacation, I took my beloved Africa to the vet. For most of you that know me, Africa is a 100% indoor cat that gets taken for an annual exam every year. Most people think I am nut to get all her shots and an exam once a year, but I do it not because she wants me to but because I want her to live as long as possible in the best health as possible. I always went for an annual physical (lotta good that did me!), so I figured she should too. Back to the story....on Friday after my CT scan I scheduled several appointments. You know, things that have to be done whether you have cancer or not. I scheduled an eye exam, an oil change, and Africa's vet appointment. I knew it was a lot for one day, but I didn't have the kids and I thought, with a rest in between, I could do it. First was the eye appointment. I was trying to do this once treatment was over, but my glasses were so scratched I could wait any longer. Get this, my prescription has changed because I eyes got better. Let's see, my hair has to be thinned and my eye are getting better. I live in opposite world! I look at glasses, pick a pair, and the staff is so helpful that they get my old pair covered under warranty, so I will ultimately have two pair of glasses which, when you only wear glasses, is REALLY NICE. I come home and rest. I go to the oil change which always takes longer than you think it should. What are they doing?!?!?!?! And why does the paperwork take so long?!?!?!? I start the car and it acts weird. FABULOUS, but I don't have time because I have to go home and cram the cat in the cat box and take her to the vet. Africa is none to pleased with the trip to the vet. I guess she is a cat after all. When I get there, the lobby is PACKED. There is a line up to check in which I cannot stand in for that long, so I go to the only chair, put Africa underneath and sit. I sit and sit and sit. The line never gets shorter. The best part of all of this is that since my episode with the headache/stroke thing I have been having what I think are panic attacks. They seem to come on when I am outside of the house, usually with the kids but sometimes not, and usually when I am not in control of what is happening. So, I start focusing on my breathing trying to calm down thinking all the time, "I got to get the heck out of here!!!! What if it happens again here? I don't want to go in another ambulance. CRAP! CRAP! CRAP!" So, finally a conversation started in the lobby about who had checked in and who hadn't. I quietly said, "I haven't checked in and I can't stand for that long." I don't know how this woman knew, but with that, she was on it. I mean ON IT! She basically elbowed herself to the front, at the same time, they called for behind the desk, "Is Africa here?" I said, "That is me" and I was taken back for the appointment. The woman smiled at me and winked. Here is the rub. She was like eighty AT LEAST. I should have been taking care of her, but she bounded into action with a quiet comment that I couldn't stand up that long. Could she even hear what I said?!?!?!? All I could think is, does she know? How does she know? Did she have this happen to her when she was young? All the times that people have assumed that I was fine, cut in line, told me they were sick, or told me that I needed to make way because they were sicker than me, she didn't question, ask, probe, quiz......nothing. She simply took care of me. I don't even know her name, but she was in my prayers that night. Maybe she was my angel to help me - who knows, I am just glad that she was there because she made all the difference. My second blessing was the truck's engine light came on when I got home. "At home" is the blessing part and an easy fix the next week was even better. Happy Monday, Ang

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hi Angie- think about you daily. Just wanted to let you know. Love you, Lizette

Myrna said...

Angie, I thought when I first started to read this blog that your cat (who has taken care of you!) turned out to be 80 years old in cat years and that is the 80-year-old taking care of you. Funny where the mind goes...

Anonymous said...

It's enough to restore my faith in humanity.