At the Heart Center
I went to the Heart Center today for my annual echocardiogram
scheduled for 2 pm. Not my favorite place to go, but necessary.
So I take it all in stride because it's important. After all, the heart
is the super most important part of us to keep healthy!
I arrive fifteen minutes early as requested
get comfortable in the waiting room
see lots of elderly people waiting for tests
remember that I just turned eighty
I remind myself that I am not old
they call my name after twenty minutes
more paperwork to fill out
same insurance, same meds, same everything
nothing has changed in a year
I follow the orders and do it
more waiting- check my cell phone
at 3 pm they call me in to the test room
the technician presents me with cute clothing
a bolero-type paper jacket- with instructions
put it on and keep it open in the front
more waiting for her to come back
she returns and tells me to lay on the table
warns me that the gel is very warm
applies it all over my chest and it feels good
she tells me to turn on my left side
her instrument starts searching for my heart
minutes go by and she turns on the sound
thump thump, swish swish, thump thump
swish swish, thump thump- I feel alive
surprised how much noise the heart makes
the sound is quite eerie but comforting
next step, I need to lay flat
more searching with her instrument
I look at the monitor- pictures of my heart
it is 3:40 pm and she is all done
she hands me wads of paper towels
I wipe off the gel and then get dressed
still sticky everywhere
all done now and out the door I go
will return in two weeks for the results
pray my old ticker performed well
hope there's nothing to worry about-
that my leaky valve did not get worse
thank heavens for modern medicine!
August 5, 2019
~2nd Place~
Contest: Writing Challenge 3, July 2019 - List
Sponsor: Dear Heart
Judged: 08/07/2019
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