Life plans change with a phone call
Last week as I wrote my column, I was mentally preparing this week’s column which I believed would be my last for a few weeks. I was scheduled to have spinal surgery on April 30 and would be off work for six weeks or so. Had my pre-op, picked up the back brace I would be wearing after the surgery and was getting myself psyched up for the procedure. Actually the surgery itself is not the issue; the issue was the four to six weeks that I won’t be able to do much. My mother and grandmother were always “doing” and I inherited that gene. “Idle hands are the devil’s workshop” was often heard around my home.
On Thursday, I started the prescribed “showering” using the antibacterial liquid I had been given by the hospital. Had my instruction list near the medicine cabinet so I would know when to stop taking what medications and knew what “comfortable” clothing I would be wearing to the hospital. A friend had just loaned me a walker and I was just waiting for a call to tell me what time to be at the hospital on the 30th – without jewelry, make-up and heaven help me or them, NO COFFEE!
When the phone rang on Friday morning and Caller I.D. showed it was from the hospital, I assume it was someone to tell me the time of the surgery. Wrong — they were calling to tell me my surgery had been rescheduled for June 1. I reacted in a very adult manner and said “You have to be kidding me.” She not only assured me she was not, but I would have to do pre-op again! I would not only have to have another EKG and give them four more vials of blood, I would have to step on THE SCALES again. I am a quick learner, so this time I am wearing my swim suit, a cover up and flip-flops! No more sweater, slacks and tennis shoes that add 10 extra pounds to an already obscene number that pops up on the screen.
So what-ever the reason my friends, you will be stuck with me and my very unattractive cane for the next month. And, no, I was not told why the change and I didn’t have the presence of mind to ask.
Don’t forget — Saturday, May 2, is the annual City Wide Garage Sale. When you are out and about on Saturday, stop by the library and purchase a few good used books to take to the lake or the pool with you. See you at the library.
••• Editor’s note: Peggy Maddox is the librarian of the Pea Ridge Community Library. She can be reached at the library at 451-8442 or by mail at P.O. Box 9, Pea Ridge, AR 72751. Library hours are 1 p.m. until 8 p.m. Monday and Tuesday; 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday; and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays. The library web site is www.pearigecommunitylibrary.org and e-mail is library@pearidgecommunitylibrary.org. The Pea Ridge Community Library has a Facebook site.