January 08th, 2018

"An apple a day keeps the doctor away"  That's what we were taught when I was a kid.  I suppose they didn't actually  mean pineapples, but close enough.  And I also don't suppose they meant literally a person needed to eat one apple every day but rather to eat healthfully.  And in this house, we try to. (mostly) We really do.  And to exercise.  And do all the other things a person is supposed to do to take care of themselves. 

​And I suppose, for the most part, it has worked. I mean, both of us are in pretty darned good shape, at least health-wise. (round is a legitimate shape after all) So I guess, even though I absolutely hate admitting this, that we seem to have reached THAT age.  That annoying, horrible, expensive age, when every time we turn around there seems to be another doctor, or doctor related appointment on the calendar.  I just despise this.

​To be fair, somehow the idea of finding doctors down here in our new state seemed to have been put on the back burner and neither of us did anything about it for nearly a year.  Yeah, I know, shame on us.  But finally we got things started with a dentist.  We really like our new dentist and everyone at the office.  And Tim's teeth were fine.  He went in, got x-rayed and all checked out and polished up with no issues.  But I however, needed 3 crowns (two of which have been successfully done since) Time, money, comfort levels, all things I am not in favour of spending, were involved. 

Then we found a regular doc.  Great guy.  We are big fans of him.  But in his thoroughness and zeal, he sent us both off for tests.  The results of those sent us both off further to other doctors, specialists this time (nothing scary, everything requires specialists nowadays - left foot specialist, right elbow specialist) which requires more testing and expenditure of more time, money and comfort levels.  

​The new docs leaned out from their own windows a bit to  remind us to take care of other things like getting our eyes checked. Another doctor appointment..yeesh!  And I really started getting annoyed.

​It's not the doctor's fault.  It's not even our faults.  We have been very fortunate in our selection of physician/dentists/etc medical personnel down here.  All of them are awesome.  It's that age-reminder that irritates me, "Hey, Sam, you aren't as young as you used to be"  Damnit!  I remember a time when literally years went by without a doctor visit. (dentist was a different story - I've always been good about regular dental checkups).  I wasn't sick so I didn't need to go!

​The things that really bugs me though is that now I have reached that ugly age threshold that says, even though you feel fine, there are things you need to stay on top of on a regular basis.  I hate this threshold.

​Last week, I thought that we were finally done.  The last appointment had finally been completed and I was happy that we wouldn't see any doc name pop up as a gotta-do on my calendar for awhile and then... and then...and then.....  in Saturday's mail I got a reminder notice from my new Florida GYN doc that is was time to schedule my annual check up.  Dang!

​I do not want to be that older person whose life and therefore conversation revolves around doctor appointments and prescription refills and all sorts of special this and that's that are medically related.  I won't.  I refuse to.  I'm putting my foot down!  I will go to my dratted appointments, but I won't like it.  I will keep eating right and exercising,  but I absolutely will NOT allow this nonsense to be the center of my existence. 

​Give me another second here, my tantrum is nearly over.

​The Welsh poet, Dylan Thomas, wrote, "Do not go gentle into that good night.'  No worries, Dylan, I'm going kicking and screaming all the way.

​Hope everyone had a lovely weekend. Hugs all 'round