#198 - Don't Like Labs

Oncologist's Festive Office

Early in July I went in for my routine blood work. I chuckled with the staff about the silly Christmas tree, decorated in Fourth of July flags. We laughed and gabbed and I looked forward to getting my appointment scratched off my calendar.

But something was a little off with my lab results.  "Probably nothing, but let's redo your labs in a couple weeks."

That made me grumpy.

Grumpy Again

​Yesterday, I went in to re-do the blood work. It was the day after returning from a 15-day trip. I was grumpy. 

I wasn't grumpy about needles and labs. I wasn't feeling post-vacation cranky either. I was missing my kids. Our trip had involved the move of my daughter and her husband to Portland, Oregon. In 8 months, both kids have gotten married and moved west. California and Oregon are wonderful places to visit, but there's a lot of adjusting for all of us!
​

Quiet in the Chemo Room

I may have been grouchy, but the staff was upbeat and chatty. AfterI had my blood drawn, I was invited to sit in one of the loungy-chemo-chairs, while I waited on results. It felt odd. It's been 2 years since I sat in one of those chairs. I felt so out of place... too healthy to be in that room.

Wigs

I noticed the wig stands, lining the windowsill. They looked a little creepy. Were they always there? I think I would remember that. I asked a nurse about them and she told me they were donated wigs and that so many people need them and appreciate the donations.

I thought about my old wig, hiding in my closet at home. Why do I still have that, when it could actually make someone happy? I don't need to keep it. If I'm unlucky enough to have to do this again, I deserve a new wig. That thought made me feel better. Then the nurse came out with my results. "Amazing labs!" She said, handing me a print out, with lots of numbers, that meant little to me. But I liked her good words and that made me happy.

The Best Thought

Being back at the office, was the reminder I needed. It was time to stop moping about the kids being out west. 

I reminded myself that I wouldn't have been able to take a 15-day trip, 2 years ago. Instead of sulking, I thought about how good it was, spending time with Heidi and Jamie in Portland and later in Seattle, when Scott and Chali joined us. We just have too much fun to let distance become a huge issue. We have no plans for our next reunion, but it might be time to start planning.