I had a physical and follow-up scheduled for this morning with my doctor – and one of the things he wanted to check was my blood pressure. Last time I was in there, it was a little high and I was worried I’d have to start taking medicine for it.
The appointment was at 8:45 and I figured I’d go into work at 7 and then leave from there at 8 – making sure that the doors were opened and the switchboard was ready to go. I got a little work done before it was time to go and when 8 rolled around, I was re-coated and ready to go.
Except, no student operator.
I went ahead and turned on the system and took a few calls, heading right towards a freak out. If she didn’t show – what was I going to do? I had no backup.
5 after
7 after
10 after – finally, I heard the door.
She came into the office – car trouble, apparently – and I was on my way.
It had snowed just enough that I needed to scrape off my car, and then I was on my way.
Except that there were streets closed off and I had to divert. And then I was on my way.
Onto the highway and then a dead stop. Traffic was bumper to bumper as far as I could see. We were then moving a little bit – about 4 miles an hour – but I was starting to ramp up the freak out. I tried to determine alternate routes and tried to weigh stoplights and unplowed side streets verses the highway clearing.
At last, we got past the accident and back up to speed.
Tick.
Tock.
Ahead, another accident but this was off to the side and didn’t slow us down.
Finally, the exit I needed. I waited approximately 137 years through each of the lights on that road, and eventually reached the doctor’s office. I parked, dodged the other cars in the lot, and made it inside.
I stopped at the indicated marker in the lobby and waited about 5 minutes before the clerk looked up from her screen.
“Can I help you?” she asked, somewhat exasperated that she had to, I dunno, talk to me. I had my cards ready, and told her my appointment information.
Once checked in, I sat down and looked at my watch.
Five minutes to spare.
I used those 5 minutes and the next 5 minutes to settle myself down. Deep breathing, counting in binary… and then my name was called.
The nurse was a little more engaged this time and paid me an accidental compliment when she had to swap out the BP cuff for my bicep for a bigger one.
And my blood pressure was somehow normal. I’d also lost 4 pounds in the last 2 weeks, inadvertently.
She gave me a gown to change into and I waited for the doctor to come in. He checked me over and said I need to watch my weight a little and keep exercising.
I got changed back into my work clothes and stopped on the way out to get some blood drawn.
And, I gotta tell you, this phlebotomist was hands-down the absolute best. I’ve given a lot of blood and been stuck by a lot of needles and this was the least painful ever. She should win awards – and I told her so.
A bandage on my arm and I was headed back to work.
Strange morning.
I had gotten myself really worked up, but it was pretty okay. And for those of you playing along at home, the lump is gone and I’m right as rain.