The Sixth Decade

The sixth decade of life seems to be all about medical procedures for both my husband and myself.  Last week, it was his turn.  I had to take him to an outpatient surgical clinic to have a growth removed from his lower right eyelid.

My husband is used to being the driver and not the navigator on our excursions but obviously I was the driver this time.  The drive to the clinic was like something from a Marx Brothers film, marked by many a missed turn because Bill hasn't the knack of telling me when to turn until we have passed the appropriate point.  But eventually we got there. 

It was a very upscale surgical clinic: the people were solicitous and communicative, the surgeon and anesthesiologist were skilled and the place itself was quite lovely, complete with crown moldings , sculptures and comfortable furniture in the reception area.  But from the point of view of the person waiting, the best part was the courtyard on the ground floor..  It was open to the air, surrounded on all four sides by the building, paved with Belgian blocks, appointed with tables and chairs of heavy steel mesh and adorned by plantings in squares scattered throughout the area and along the borders of the space.  The gardens were not showy or glamorous, though quite attractive in a simple and elegant fashion.  Every plant were clearly selected for fragrance: with even the slightest breeze, one was treated to wonderful scents.  I am not quite sure what sort of a comment it makes on the quality, or range, of my life when I start writing reviews of surgical clinics and their waiting areas.  Anyway, it was a fine place to spend the two hours waiting for my husband's procedure to be completed.

I spent the waiting time stitching on Workbasket's Quaker Squirrel.  In the very peaceful atmosphere of the courtyard, I got quite a bit done.  The chart called for Belle Soie's Cinnamon Stick for which I substituted GAST Cinnamon and, just for a bit of contrast, GAST Sarsaparilla, for the acorn.  I'll post photos tomorrow when I catch up with all the stitching I have done since I last posted in May.

Later this week, he'll be having another surgery, removing a large growth [the size of an orange] from below his arm.  This one will be done at the out-patient clinic of the local hospital which has nowhere near as congenial a waiting space for relatives.  The doctors are 90% sure this is a benign growth but, of course, we'll be breathing a sigh of relief only after the biopsy makes that a certainty.

In August, it will be my turn.  I will finally have the cataracts removed.  I had wanted to get it done in  July but August was the earliest my doctor could schedule the procedures.  Still, I am looking forward to much better vision in the near future.