Photograph on left is much better without heavy power lines! Thank you for the tip about cleanup.pictures, Pete! I know this was passed on from another blogger…much appreciated.
As it turned out, our drive to Albany on Thursday was quite pleasant. I was overlooking the 5-minute rule about weather in these parts.
In Cambridge it really didn’t look like clearing in the normal 5 minutes but there is a second part to that rule which involves removing oneself 5 miles in any direction.
Before we’d gone far, it turned into a nice day.
For half the drive we had the road to ourselves.
Without much enthusiasm, I had accepted a referral to a neurologist, urged to find out the meaning of “an abnormal brain scan”.
Having seen a copy of the report, I thought this was an exaggeration of the case, but with the history of dementia lurking, I allowed myself to be persuaded.
In this manner, I have bounced around almost every specialty known to medical science.
And some “fringe” specialties.
In due course, I met the latest doctor.
It’s not something I enjoy a great deal as I generally feel intimidated and tongue tied in these situations. Particularly when they enter looking solemn and serious and terribly self-important.
This time, though, I got a friendly smile that told me I could relax.
In not so many words, the doctor explained the “abnormality” of my scan:
Basically, it’s everyone passing the buck, not wanting to lay themselves open to law suits.
The result is a colossal wasting of money and everyone’s time, not to mention causing unnecessary anxiety. Not that I was anxious, but some years ago my aunt received a call on the Friday afternoon before a holiday weekend, to tell her that she had been diagnosed with an aneurysm.
Which all turned out to have been a mistake.
It is rare, in my experience, for a doctor to be so frank.
Having established that my scan was in fact not in the least abnormal, the doctor went through the details to explain them.
I was immediately struck by the contrast of his approach.
The previous day another physician had commented: “maybe they will find a way to prevent aging”.
This doctor, reading the script that I had already seen, searched for an alternate word, so I supplied it:
“….normal in the elderly“.
Sometimes I can’t quite figure how I appeared suddenly to have reached the age of 74, but I am not in the least sensitive about it.
However I was touched to find a physician who seemed considerate of my feelings.
Such a small thing.
The doctor smiled and said:
“You do not need me!”
Too bad. He would have been a keeper!
“Stop fiddling with the camera and tell me where I’m going!” Grant had said as we approached the freeway.
“Go right but stay left” said the GPS woman.
It is so easy to wind up in the wrong lane and before you know it you’re crossing the state line or halfway to Montreal.
However we got to within a stone’s throw of our destination only to find ourselves caught in a loop that took us past the parking lot several times before granting us access.
One more reason why we generally pad our journey time!
We do get to know our own bodies pretty well eventually!
Pleased with your good news.
The photo tip was from an American blogger, Phil. It is very easy to use, and I am glad it worked for you.
I don’t mind being ‘elderly’. I get a free bus pass, free prescriptions, and reduced-rate entry into places, including the local cinema. I also got to jump a long queue for recent hospital tests, and was told it was “Because of your age”.
Best wishes, Pete.
That close up picture of the tree with the fall coloured leaves … I love it! Yes, I agree, that doctor sounds like a keeper – but it is good news that you won’t need him! All in all, a good trip to Albany then I suppose 💌.