I pictured Captain Kirk giving the time and date, “Star date, May 6, 2024. We’re in our doc’s office for our annual physical when our PCP reviews our health and suggests, it is time to call your cardiologisgt.”
There is a pause where I think about the mission of the Enterprise to explore strange new worlds and boldly go where no man has gone before.
Inside my head I hear this music and I see a much younger version of myself moving through a crowd.
My reverie is interrupted by my doctor telling me that cardiovascular disease is the number one cause of death and reviewing notes that say my dad, grandfather and grandmother had heart issues.
He looks at me and I nod my head, mention both dad and grandpa had triple bypasses and add they were significantly older than me.
“How old was your father when he had his?”
I smile and say almost 61.
“You’re 55 right?”
I nod and he asks if I have a cardiologist or have ever seen one.
“Saw one in 2013 and they checked out my heart, no issues then.”
Doc smiles and says it is a precautionary measure. “You’re two months older than I am. We’re old enough now it is worth getting checked out. Let him confirm he is happy with your BP and cholesterol meds.”
I nod my head and smile and say I am grateful for his saying I am going to die. My poker face doesn’t give away that I am messing with him and as he tries to explain I laugh and say I am just messing with him.
****
It is a strange feeling to recognize there is merit in his advice. I know I am not in the shape I want to be in but I also know I can do most things I want to do without much trouble and that most of my genetics are pretty solid.
But most is not all and there is nothing wrong with being proactive in getting checked out. Things are different than they were in 2013 so it can’t hurt.
If something is going on catching it early is good and if nothing is than I haven’t lost anything.
Still it feels surreal to be in this place that I don’t think I ever thought of reaching. Never thought about being old enough to need or want any of this.
Hell, I am due for another colonoscopy around September. Doc found a few benign polyps last time around and wants to be proactive in staying ahead of things.
Got no reason to think anything is going on, but I’ll get it checked out. Pay enough in monthly premiums, might as well take advantage of them.
Saw the dentist this week and he said I have one little issue to take care of but other than that things look pretty good.
I smile and tell him that is good because I am tired of paying for fancy vacations. We both laugh and he reiterates that things look good so he’ll rely on others to take care of that.
Happy Birthday, Dad
Moved my daughter out of her campus housing today and said goodbye to her sophomore year of school.
Her roommate’s father asked me if I could believe they were juniors and I laughed and asked if we could rely upon the guys to help them move into their new place in June.
I walked into my daughter’s bedroom and found her standing in next to the bed and a bunch of bags that were already packed.
She handed me a hat that had her university’s three letters on it and the word dad.
“Happy Birthday Dad.”
I said thank you and put it on my head.
Grabbed some bags and headed back to the parking lot of put them in the car. Watched a small pickup lurch and buck through the lot and laughed.
Someone was learning how to drive a manual, reminded me of when my middle sister borrowed a truck so that my father and I could help her move.
I got behind the wheel and popped the clutch. Didn’t have to look to my right to know I was being glared at by a pair of bright blue eyes.
Took all of 30 seconds to get Dad to relax when he realized I was messing with him and to get a lecture about treating the car properly.
And just like that I reached my car and traveled forward 35 years to the present and remembered this time I am the one doing the glaring.
Things were mostly ready to be moved when I got the apartment, but it was short of where I wanted it to be. I have moved more times than I care to think about and am pretty good at getting it done without much fuss.
What Comes Next
Been thinking quite a bit about what comes next, Some Doors Are Closing & Others Are Opening. There are all sorts of changes afoot.
Every time I think I have things nailed down a bit something else comes along and requires doing a little dance and shifting gears again.
Nothing wrong or unexpected by it, but I wouldn’t mind hitting a longer stretch of boring and ordinary for a bit. Don’t think that is coming any time soon so for the time being I’ll keep making like the lumberjack riding the log down the river.
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