My Pre-Op Visit

Yesterday was my longest day in a long time. I had two appointments in preparation for my upcoming surgery in the downtown core.I  took the sky train there, and then the B-Line bus. Crossing the Fraser River, with the Patullo bridge in full view, and the shores upon which my daughter was found was to much for me. I quickly turned my head and took a deep breath.
To my surprise, the B-line wasn't so fast after all, so I made it in, 5 minutes before my scheduled appointment. I wobbled there, had some blood work, and met with the anesthesiologist. They had too many questions and recommended that I have a spinal freezing for my hip surgery. I told them I'll think about it, but already knew that a spinal freeze to me , something that I never had in my life is more scarier than being knocked out for the entire  procedure. So come next Friday, I will decide which one I want. There are pros and cons to both of course. They reviewed all my pills, and went through several booklets that I was to remember for the day before and the day of surgery.
Later in the afternoon, I sat for another 2 hours when a nurse described and showed films of the appliances they will put inside us., whether a hip or knee surgery. She also described all the equipment we will have to get from the red cross, and the pamphlet which I did not pick up , as to how soon we can have sex after our surgeries.I told the nurse that I do not have the upper body strength to be sliding my body along a board to get into the tub. I plan to go to a swimming pool shower to wash in the first few weeks if I can't get into my tub.  I think nature will take care of what it needs to. Frankly, I personally would not mind if I remained on the operating table.

 If I do wake up, I will not be a zealous patient to recover. Life is not so exciting when you get to be my age. The drudgery of life weighs one down. I feel that those things that I loved to do, such as hospitality, I no longer enjoy. Most people are an island, and with the exception of 2 families, we have pretty well been left to carry on alone. I met two ladies at the Pattison Building who commuted from Salmon Arm and Abbotsford respectively. They were even staying in a hotel for the night, to break down the arduous day of specialists appointments. I had a spinach cake and coffee with them. I was greateful, that my journey to the city wasn't as long as theirs.
In rush hour I came home on the trains and buses. I have not been on a bus for some time, and there were all kinds of people imaginable, squished like sardines. Thankfully a man offered me his seat in the wheelchair seat sections. After a long hard day of work he was such a gentleman that he did that. I shared with him of my upcoming hip surgery, and rewarded him with his old seat, once I could slide over to yet another empty seat. Very few men are gentleman in our world.. I'm afraid. Something went amiss, either their moms weren't there for them or it is simply the last generation, and we are all on the same plane of indifference. Indifference is the opposite of love by the way.. It isnt hate, it is a society of indifference.

Yet another pot bless dinner is occuring at the funeral home. I asked to have our names put down for 2 people, but I'm strongly sensing that we will not be going.