My PCP said he thought it would be smart to visit a cardiologist based upon my blood work and age.
“It’s preventative, better to know what is going on and see if they recommend any steps.”
I smiled and told him I didn’t have any plans to drop dead and followed through on my promise to see a new doc.
So today when they asked for my family medical history I told them I come from a long line of men who punch holes in donuts and bagels.
That earned a quizzical look so I followed by saying everyone knows donuts and bagels don’t come with holes pre-punched in them, they have to be made.
“It is honorable, a holey job.”
Sadly my children weren’t there to groan but the 30 year-old who was reviewing my information prior to the doc meeting with me gave a courtesy laugh.
He followed up by telling me he understands what it is like to get a little older. I smiled and asked him if he realized I really am old enough to be his father.
Somehow it didn’t click when I verified my birthday that I am 25 years older than he is. That almost weirded me out, the recognition I could easily have a 30 year-old.
Then I remembered my oldest is turning 24 so it is not such a big deal.
Let’s Check Your Calcium
Had a good meeting with the doc who suggested I go for a few different test so that we could get a good handle on where things are at.
He asked if I had ever had a calcium test and I said if that referred to checking blockages in my heart than the answer was once in 2013. “Got a clean bill of health then Doc.”
They were able to arrange for an updated test today so I jumped in the car and drove back to Grapevine where I had the first one done.
Feels like that was a different lifetime to me but that is a side note.
Paid the lady at the front desk for a ticket to ride and then emptied my pockets to take the test.
Got the results back pretty quickly and learned things aren’t quite as free flowing the veins and arteries as they once were.
We’ll have to see what the doc says but the numbers didn’t appear to be horrible for a guy my age.
I am not going to get too excited one way or another about this until I hear his opinion. But given what I do at the gym I feel pretty good about things.
Though it was a little strange to say my dad and grandfather both had triple bypasses and my grandmother had heart issues.
It is worth noting grandma had her issues in her nineties and grandpa was in his seventies when his crept up. Dad was heading towards 61 which no longer sounds as old as it once did.
I almost didn’t put any of this out there because it is not your business but I figure it won’t hurt to have another record for my kids.
Hopefully they never have to worry about anything but by the time they hit their fifties there is no guarantee I’ll still be here. And even if I am I may not remember exact timelines.
Don’t get too excited, I don’t have any plans to go anywhere.
But I also recognize sometimes life makes decisions without our input. If you don’t try to tell the people you care about that they are important to you there may be a rough moment for you.
I have been pretty good about making that effort but not everyone is interested or amenable to those discussions.
And though my children have heard me say it a million times I have told them both that I love them recently and frequently.
Heck, a while back my daughter told me she wanted to tell me something but she didn’t want me to “pull a dad.”
I smiled and told her that is a sign of love.
“I’d take the bullet or step in front of the bus. And if need be I”ll be happy to punch anyone in the throat or go with a Three Stooges eye gouge if that’s what it takes to protect you.”
And then I reminded her that I really don’t fly off the handle. I may yell and or scream for a moment but that’s usually before I take action.
She agreed that I am generally pretty calculated in responding, “I try not to let my anger create unnecessary issues.”
Advocate For Yourself
One of the things that makes me happiest about my children is they understand “advocate for yourself” and are pretty good at doing so.
When they share challenges and or grievances I try to stay quiet long enough to hear them tell me what solutions they have tried or intend to try.
Sometimes I have let them try those even when I thought there were better ways to go. That can be painful for both of us because I don’t like seeing them have to fight through things.
I can’t stomach them not being able to stand up for themselves and there is no better way to learn than doing.
But in some situations I do insert myself sooner because there are situations that merit it. I always remind them that life is a series of choices and often there is no sign that says right or wrong.
So you just have to make the best choice you can and go from there.
The Influence Of Dr. Google
Someone came at me during a political disagreement and I shut them down almost immediately.
“I have no interest in discussing this with you. You think the influence of Dr. Google makes you an expert but it really doesn’t.
A few hours of study without knowing if you understanding and interpretation is correct doesn’t provide much in the way of benefits.
Sometimes it is an easy way to demonstrate to others that you really don’t know anything.”
They told me I was an angry Zionist and that if I knew anything I would understand the Protocols of The Elders of Zion proved me wrong. They followed up that zinger by telling me the guy flying a swastika at his tire shop was a good guy.
I didn’t bother responding, I just blocked and moved on. Wasn’t any point trying to educate a fool who was so deeply entrenched they pushed that nonsense.
A little bit of knowledge can be dangerous and or unhelpful if you don’t know how to apply it.
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