Playing Fair and Being Kind

Today, finally, I got my left eye, (macular degeneration), treatment injection. I’ve been waiting since December 4^th. The problem was generated by the fact that I transferred my medical plan to a more accessible one; same company (military retiree). Previous I had only non-emergency medical care available in Maine and New Hampshire. It was a choice I made many moons ago when it didn’t seem all that critical to my health and well-being. In the past few years with all of my traveling it certainly is an issue now. I’d lost track of such important information and never dreamed that trying to get health care benefits outside of the Northeast would be such a luxury. Imagine my surprise when I made and appointment in Santa Fe, New Mexico for a routine treatment and the authorization was denied. It took me a full thirty days of mistakes and blunders and false starts to finally get approval and scheduled for what happened today. Yay! Is all I can say. And, the system is now set to repeat this event over and over when necessary. Double Yay!

While I waited in the eye clinic office and during my various seating locations throughout the clinic, I noticed there were a lot of the framed art pieces and other objects mounted on the walls slightly or majorly askew. At first notice I saw a pair of prints side by side on a wall; one was straight-ish and the other was undoubtedly crooked. I think if someone had straightened the nearly straight piece the other would have been way out of whack. I thought, yipes, that would really bother someone who has OCD. A bit later I was in another waiting situation in another part of the clinic and saw a larger print hanging in an attitude of earthquake survival. Just turning my head slightly revealed the wood-framed cork board behind the receptionist’s desk fully twisted two inches out of plumb.

Was it me? I wondered. No. I have rarely seen more than one crooked frame in any doctor’s office. This was either intentional to check the eyesight of the clients or someone rushed through the office with an elephant on a leash and knocked everything crooked. The thought crossed my mind to mention it to someone but then I thought, nuh-uh. They’ll think I’m OCD.

I was called. Everything was in order and I was directed to go to one of the rooms for the injection of medicine that prolongs my good eyesight for another eight weeks. The doctor is new to me and she is delightful. She talked gently and gave instructions to maintain my sanity and she slipped the needle into the left side of my eyeball with such deftness that I didn’t even blink or twitch or cry like a baby. It was over and I was so relieved. Finally, to have the treatment to arrest the deterioration of the retina. She was happy as well. I detected her relief that her new patient was so happy. Our grins matched. What a feeling. Like I said in the title, Better Than You-Know-What.

It’s been a long time between posts, I know. I’ve been preoccupied with this glitch in my regular pattern of health care. I was concerned that the delay in the treatment of the macular condition would cause irreversible damage. With the regular treatment I have 20/20 vision. If the macular progresses unimpeded then I will eventually be blind in one eye. I’m guessing that the Department of Motor Vehicle would not renew my driver’s license. That would be the end for me. I need to drive to travel as much as I do and to be restricted in that activity would hasten the end of me, no doubt. It is a relief to have this off my mind now and I can get back to concentrating my thoughts and activities toward writing and blogging.

Which brings me to one of the things that I encountered during the early part of my trip. I stopped at a military installation to spend a few days in a soft bed with kitchen privileges and quiet surroundings. I arrived late, too late to check in normally. The person on watch was needed to open the gate and allow me access to the cabin I was assigned. I was a little surprised to see this person was a young man. He seemed to be of military bearing and filled with confidence. During the next few days I saw this individual several times and we spent quite a while sharing stories and experiences. Not unusual for those I encounter and share time with.

It turns out that this person was staying at this installation in a temporary duty status. He was tasked with being available after hours to fulfill the needs of the housing unit at this base. He was sort of a handyman on duty whenever things got too busy or whenever he was needed after hours. I’ve had temporary duty jobs such as this in my active duty service over the years. It’s a typical way to utilize active duty personnel who are not engaged in their regular duties for one reason or another. His real job, it turned out was to go on assignment to far-away places and interfere with drug trafficking in ways he was trained to do.

He didn’t come right out and tell me this. I had to ask the right questions and be patient and be able to add 2 plus 2. I learned enough with the little he said and with the right amount of eye contact to figure out that he did drug interdiction. In far away places. Upon further examination/close observation I noticed that his physique was of the type that was athletic and powerful. I also got the vibe that he was not to be trifled with. His attitude and afore mentioned military bearing and confidence were evidence of his suitability for his assignment. Later, during my stay, I encountered another young gentleman in the same duty status. He was driving around the cabin area picking up trash cans for dumping when he spotted me walking along. He hailed me and gently but firmly asked me how my day was going. I sensed his real question was, who am I and do I belong here. I told him where I was staying and I was wondering what the pass-code was for the access gate after hours when it was closed and locked. His expression remained passive but official as he told me the pass-code was printed on my key card. He held my gaze while I figured that he wanted to see me pull out my key card to look at it. I did. There was the pass-code just as he said. We were both satisfied.

I will not forget this experience.

Gentle George
January 6, 2020