HOW IS LIT CELEBRATING HER BIRTHDAY?

(Forgive me for using third person in the title; it just always sounds so exciting when Dagromm does that. Like someone is really interested, you know? Now I'll get back to myself.)

Well, it's a long story, much like my life; but not quite that long. Let's start with the fact that I have already purchased Amtrak tickets to visit Goo over Christmas and New Year's. About a month ago I suddenly thought, " Why should I put off cataract surgery until after the trip if I could see much better when I am in Washington, D.C.?" So, I began to do the now standard internet search on information about such surgery, expectations, etc.

Then last week I was scheduled for a six months check up with my general health care provider; I mentioned to her that I was tentatively scheduled for said cataract surgery, and she said that the doctor would want an EKG, and we could go ahead and do that at the moment. Sounded good to me, and we did. After looking at the EKG she turned very solemn and said there had been changes and that she felt that an echo cardiogram and stress test were in order. (It had been a little over six yrs. since the last tests.) Well, that certainly put a damper on things, and driving home I thought that I should go ahead and contact LSUS Med. School about the donation of my body, update my will, make provision for my pets, etc., etc.

The echo cardiogram was on Tuesday, and there were small signs posted everywhere admonishing us not to ask the technician about "how it looked." I take these seriously and didn't. Thurs. I went to the ophthalmologist to have my eye measurements taken for the upcoming surgery and received my "Right Eye Kit." Some eye drops, a Rx for more eye drops, and lots of instructions, plus a hard plastic eye patch, a roll of "duck tape", and those big black glasses were the contents. The encouraging part of this is that the patient is expected to drive him/herself back for a check-up the next day. On the day of surgery someone else is expected to drive due to the mild anesthesia one will have experienced.

So, that brings us to today when I checked in at 7:27 a.m. at the hospital for the stress test. I won't go through all the details of that because some of you will have been there already and don't really want to "re-live" it, though it isn't that terrible. It does take a fairly long time, which seems longer because there is a needle stuck in your arm which you have to protect, but it could be worse. The doctor and the Nurse Practitioner that I see were both in attendance. They were very complimentary on my "performance."

At one p.m. I was back to see the Nurse Practitioner to get the results of the tests. Are you ready? Everything was fine!!! The prolapsed mitral valve was still the same, but everything else was top notch. (This includes both tests.) She didn't say "for a woman your age", and I appreciate that. Both she and the doctor were impressed that I kept up with the treadmill increases, didn't break a sweat (how could you in that ice house?), and wasn't even near ready to give up when they said I had reached what was expected of me. Seriously, I could have gone on for a few more minutes. Ali, the technician who did all the prep. work, and hook ups, etc., and I had some really terrific conversation time, and I think we are now great buddies. We seem to have similar outlooks on life in general.

With this new optimistic outlook I drove to Sam's for a gas tank fill up. I do this at the first of each month and try to keep my driving within that filled tank range for the remainder of the month. Part of the strategy I developed when gas prices skyrocketed a couple of yrs. ago. However, it may be blown this time because I'm to go to Alexandria on Sun. to help take down the display the orchid society put up today for Alexandria's show. We'll see.

Still feeling euphoric after filling the gas tank I decided to go to Wonder Cuts for a much needed hair cut. Can you believe it? I walked right in and was immediately called for the shearing. Looks like a great haircut so far, and it feels so good. That went so fast I still had excess time before my four o'clock appt. for a mini-pedicure (a month overdue).

I decided to drop in on Chill at his store and hoped to catch Jaz there, but missed her. When I walked in he gave me a stern look (as if I'd intruded) and started giving me this double armed swishing movement over to the center aisle of the store. I didn't understand, but I followed his direction. Then I saw the man in the straw cowboy hat, jeans, T-shirt, and tattoos. And I remembered what he had said about a month ago, "He looked as if he'd just come off the farm." Then Chill said, "This is my mother; this is Nicholas Cage."

Well, I can only say that Mr. Cage has absorbed all the gentility of the south if it wasn't already in his nature, though I suspect it was. He said, and I quote: "How do you do, Ma'm. My son and I enjoy your son's store very much." I replied that I enjoy it too, but that it usually makes me sleepy. (I usually start yawning in there; today I didn't.) He went on with his shopping, and I waited until I could have Chill's attention. That came when Mr. Cage had a cell phone call and went outside to talk; Chill thought that Jaz had called me to say NC was there, but I explained that I had come to talk about my health revelations, and discuss the upcoming surgery, and to show off my Right Eye Kit. That gave him the willies.

Anyway just before I left Nicholas Cage decided to ask a question or two of me regarding when Chill started reading comics, and we exchanged one or two other family stories. Let me just say that he was a very nice person, maybe an inch or two taller than Chill, very clean cut (except for the tattoos which to me are a distraction), and skinny as a rail. In fact, just shortly after we were introduced I was thinking: "We look about the same in our jeans---weight wise."

Then I headed over to Chill and Jaz's house to have a planning strategy meeting with Jazz, and , fortunately, we worked that out insofar as we know when the surgery will be. Sometime on the 13th of Oct. between 8:30 and 1:30. More to come on that.

Finally at 4:00 I was able to have my mini-pedicure from Sokum, one month overdue. My toenails are now very pink and are nice and short. The main reason for pedicures is that with aging my great toe nails are so tough that I can't cut them, and sometimes Sokum has a problem with them too. But they feel good and look garish, but that's o.k.

So that's how my birthday has been celebrated so far. I know it's not until tomorrow, but it feels like a celebration today. Thanks to all who have wished me well already; I appreciate it so much.