So, I know its been a while. However, my friend, high school classmate and neighbor, Erica, challenged me to start back writing. She reminded me that this is my catharsis. This is one of my healthy forms of relief from stress, trauma and now GRIEF. It’s my way of clearing my mind, removing the clutter. It’s better than some of the bad habits that I have. Little did she know, I had already started preparing this one.
Since I’m having a temporary reprieve from this new grief, I decided to put a few words down. This blog entry, though, is a “soft restart” to hopefully help me return to my normal routine. The reason this is a “soft restart” is because it’s a story from about twenty five years ago.
It was in the form of an email that I sent to Kandi describing a doctor’s visit that I had with our daughter, Kiana. Kandi loved the story and the writing of this story so much, she actually saved the email all these years. She thought it was so funny. This email was the first time she began mentioning to me about writing. So, I guess it was an early inspiration.
Anyway, this email is dated. As you read it, you will see the references that let you know how dated it is. Anybody still paying a $5 copay?
Please enjoy the story of “The Dr’s Appointment”.
Kandi,
I just wanted to let you know that I attempted to make a doctor’s appointment for myself, but I couldn’t. At first, I couldn’t get through and when I did, he was all booked up for today. Plus, he is out of town all next week. I am feeling a lot better though. I just feel a little weak – like I’ve been working out or something.
I figured in the meantime, while I was off, and since “THE CHILD” woke up this morning looking like “the elephant man” (and broke all out with all kinds of spots and “hives” all willy nilly and such), that I would see if I could get her into the doctor. Sure enough, they had a 10:15 am appointment available. So off we went. At the time, I was still feeling like I had gone one on one with “The Rock” from the WWF. However, we managed to get in the car and make it to the doctor’s office. This is when I realized how smart your child really is. When we got out of the car, I had her hold my finger as we walked toward and into the building. In the process, I noticed her grabbing my finger really tight and slowing down and gradually pulling back toward the car. I was trying to hurry up so I could find a place to sit down, because I felt like I had been invaded by the “body snatchers”. When we got to the door, she was looking through the window and walking in like she was walking on deathrow into the death chamber in Huntsville. I was waiting to hear someone yell out “DEAD BABY WALKING”. We signed in and sat down. She finally relaxed and started pointing and beating on the big fish aquarium in the waiting room. They have taken out the real fish and put in fake plastic ones suspended by fishing string. Your child pointed at them and began repeating “Fwish! Fwish!” In the middle of her playing, laughing, and yelling, the nurse stuck her head out of the door and yelled, “KIANA POOLE!” At this, “THE CHILD” stopped dead in her tracks and froze. She KNEW it was time. Yes, the time had come. No more games. It was all for real. Daddy had really taken me to the DOCTOR. As we started walking toward the nurse, your child began repeating “NO . . . NO . . . NOOO . . .” all the way around the nurses station and into the room. While the nurse was asking me the reason for bringing her in, she began whining and crying. When the nurse left, she was okay. After a quick diaper change (No. 2), she continued playing until the Doctor came in. That’s when the show started. She screamed, she cried, she tried to climb up me and up the wall. She turned and looked at the doctor and began saying, “Bye, bye . . . Bye, bye . . .” and waving. As if to tell him, “That’s okay, we won’t be needing your services today. Everything is fine. Just fine.” Dr. Kapasi checked her ears and sure enough, in the right ear, there was the nasty little infection. Next, the “rash”. He had no definite answers. It could be an allergic reaction to something – food, fertilizer, polyvisol, ant poison, etc. He really didn’t know. In the meantime, he prescribed two days of steroids to reduce the swelling. The first dose to be given in the office in the form of – you guessed it, a shot! While the nurse was outside preparing the needle, I was attempting to prepare Kiana for the upcoming trauma. Meanwhile, Dr. Kapasi came back with a lollipop. “THE CHILD” began crying, accepted the small gift, finally said “Tank yew” and “Bye, bye . . .” It seemed like she knew she was being set up for something. I said, “Kiana, they’re gonna give you a shot to make you feel better.” She shook her head negatively. I guess she understood. Then, the nurse came in. She began the wailing and gnashing of teeth again. To my surprise, there were two shots to be given – one in each thigh. The fight was on. It didn’t last long. The shots were given, the trauma was over, and as we walked out, she told everybody “Bye, bye . . .” I paid five dollars and left.
I was really amazed and amused at the intelligence of your child. While I was out I went to the bank and she went to sleep. I guess all of that trauma was too much for her. I’ll wait until this evening to fill the prescriptions (antibiotics for ear and steroids for the elephant man effect). I have already scheduled a follow up visit for 3/21 at 4:15 pm. The doctor is out of town all next week. I guess the next appointment will be the sequel to this last adventure. “STAY TUNED FOR THE NEXT ADVENTURE!!”
See you this evening. Let me know if you are going to make it to the track meet. It’s at 5pm.
LUV U,
akp & Kiana
Disclaimer: No babies were harmed in the writing of this blog.