free - sort of

April 25, 2003


Pain wimp that I am, the first thing I asked the orthopedist was "How come I still hurt?" Says he: "You dislocated your shoulder! It's only been 2 weeks!" He's right. It only feels like I've been cooped up for a year and a half. I've completely missed spring, which is only about 15 minutes long around here. The tree pollen is making my nose run and my eyes itch but at least the mold spore count is low. The forsythia is in bloom, but for some reason I'm not feeling my usual joy at the return of yellow to the landscape. I thought I'd enjoy being free to drive and free to attempt using my arm, but I'm still pretty frustrated and bored.

I think I overdid it by driving up to the cat shelter and then to Middle Street Foods to buy the coffee formerly known as Fowle's. Poor Beethoven was hunkered down like a gray lump in his cage coming out of anesthesia after getting stitches! He was apparently in a fight with Reebok (naturally) and a new dominant male named Gavin. I feel badly for him. He was just starting to come out of his lump like state before I hurt myself. I had him playing with a cat toy and rolling over (yes, I sang Roll Over Beethoven to him) and even rubbing against my legs and purring. In fact the last time I was there before my shoulder disaster, Beethoven walked right up to me and rubbed against me when I came in. This was unheard of behavior. I thought maybe he would get interested in people and find himself a home. Of course, it helped that Reebok was in quarantine for biting Mr. H (a human) at the time. Sigh.

Meanwhile, I got my Visa bill and discovered that the plumber charged me twice for the new faucet, and I got a bill from the ER for over $3K for my visit. OK, they can cut my shirt off but they can't reach into my pants pocket for the insurance card? What's wrong with this picture? So I called and explained that I do have insurance I just couldn't produce the card from my wallet with my arm hanging off me. They took the info and claimed they would bill the insurance instead. Then I called the plumber. The office staff there at first did not believe me then offered a complicated explanation of how charges don't go through from the field. I finally got them to agree to fix it. Why do I feel like normal adult life is a challenge?

At least I'm freed from the stay at home sentence.

Today's Reading
Newfoundland and its Untrodden Ways by John G. Millais

This Year's Reading
2003 Book List

Today's Starting Pitcher
Casey Fossum


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Copyright © 2003, Janet I. Egan