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