It’s just rice

Most people probably spend the extra hour we gain in Daylight Savings by sleeping. I usually use that extra hour to clean, as something around here always needs cleaning. This time, however, I’m going to spend the extra hour reflecting on my good health.

It’s a tenuous state. And after my little scare this week, I’m planning to savor it even more. In case you missed the update, I had some fluid on my right side that Dr S wanted to drain so he made yet another hole in my chest wall on Tuesday. All week the gunk that drained out of the latest hole was pretty nasty looking, and infection was on everyone’s mind.

Friday I saw the newest member of my infectious disease team, Dr Samo. I wanted him to see the gunk and tell me unequivocally that I had nothing to worry about. As much as I try to live by the “don’t borrow trouble” mantra (thank you very much, Amy Hoover), this gunk was worrisome.

As I drove into the Medical Center Friday morning, I was mentally reviewing the all-too-familiar list of things to pack for a hospital stay, just in case. I even wondered if I should pack a bag, since I had no idea what to expect from this doctor visit. Imagine my relief when Dr Samo was universally unimpressed with my gunk. I’m really glad. He said he agrees with Dr S, that we’re not looking at infection but simply some unhealthy tissue that’s not getting enough blood supply and dying a slow, gunky death. That kinda creeps me out, to think of decaying stuff on the inside, but compared to infection it’s positively lovely. Big sigh of relief.

There was some great comic relief in the waiting room of Dr Samo’s office. An elderly lady was waiting with her daughter, and both were pure country. They talked r-e-a-l slowly and with a heavy twang. No idea what they were there for, but they had a hilarious conversation that was too funny to not overhear. Mama said to daughter (very s-l-o-w-l-y), Next time you go to the store, I want you to bring home an orange. After a very long pause, daughter asked why, and mama said, to eat of course. Daughter chose to dredge up some ancient history by mentioning the apples she brought home from the store that mama never ate. Mama knew she was busted, and deftly changed the subject to someone named Timothy, who apparently isn’t much into fruits & vegetables, but according to mama, eats more than you think. She went on to say that when you think about it, Timothy eats salad (r-e-a-l g-o-o-d), and will eat peas, corn, potatoes, baked beans and rice. Daughter let the baked beans go, but pointed out that rice isn’t a fruit or vegetable. Mama said, well sure it is; if not a fruit or a veg, what is it? Daughter said, It’s just rice.

So there you have it folks, at the end of the day, it’s just rice.