Tuesday, June 30, 2020

I Survive And The Pragmatic Miracle Of Birth


This is the sight that greeted me when I went into the hen house this morning to see if there were any eggs. One of Miss Dottie's two eggs has hatched and there's the little one looking as healthy and aware and darling as a baby peep should look. I checked under Dottie and there's still another egg and she's not getting off that nest yet. She's still in full broody-mode, tail spread and feathers fluffed and none of the other chickens would come through the hen house this morning to make their way outside which suggests that one of them may have gotten too close to the baby earlier and been soundly reprimanded by the new mother. Or something. Who knows? But when Mr. Moon opened the door to the coop letting them out directly without having to go through the hen house, they trouped out as usual so something happened. Darla is still sitting on her one egg but I know that she's only been on it for a few days because I threw the one that had spoiled out. I honestly did not think that any chicks would hatch because of the way the mothers have switched nests and how hot it's been but I admit freely that there is a great deal that I do not know about chickens.
Plus- life will find a way, won't it?

So. Annual doctor's appointment. Do you know that in the four years or so I've been seeing the sweet Dr. Zorn that I have not ONCE been to see him for a complaint? No illness, no infections, no anything whatsoever except for my exams.
That has nothing to do with anything but it probably is indicative of the fact that I am a fairly healthy woman who doesn't get sick very often.
But this morning I worked myself up into a right tizzy before I left to go into town. I just can't help it. I did some stern self-talking, I did a lot of deep breathing.
I caved and took half an Ativan.
I showered and washed my hair which is just about down to my waist now which is what hair WILL do if one doesn't cut it for several years. I combed it out and braided it back and put on my favorite blue dress and some blue earrings and drove to town in the growing heat.
I was the only person in the waiting room for awhile. Masks were required. I love the receptionist. She calls everyone "Sweetie." Remember when I hated that? Now I live for her endearments. Another lady came in and signed in. She, too, was called Sweetie.
She brought bags of snacks for the staff.
I am not kidding you. BAGS OF SNACKS FOR THE STAFF!
This is how beloved Dr. Zorn and his folks are.
I wished I'd brought snacks for the staff too. Dang it.
When I was called back a very young woman took my vitals. She told me she was a student nurse and she did a great job. My blood pressure was of course, high. But lower than it usually is when I get it taken in the doctor's office.
And then I waited, reading my New Yorker magazine until Dr. Z. knocked on the door and came in and he looked quite dashing in his black mask. We elbow-bumped. He's a talker and a toucher. Not a toucher in a creepy way. A toucher in a reassuring way. A toucher in a I-recognize-your-humanity way.
I asked him about his new baby. When I was there a year ago his wife was pregnant with their second child. This new one was born on New Year's Eve. Another son. He showed me pictures. I showed him the picture of MY new baby- the one above.
In exam news, my blood work was mostly quite fine. All of the major organs that blood work shows the functions of are terrific.
Phew.
He did his magic trick again of getting me up on the table and doing a short exam (I was still in my dress) before I knew he I was out of my chair. How does he DO that?
He asked me some questions and we talked about chickens some. He has chickens too, and he loves them. "They're very intelligent animals," he told me quite seriously. He had a whole long story about trying to get a specific breed of hens (he lives in town and can't keep roosters) which required a trip both to the Woodville Ace Hardware and the Monticello Tractor Supply and how he ended up with only three of the breed he wanted despite being assured that they were the ones he wanted and of those, only one was a hen.
"Do you want any roosters?" he asked me.
"No thank-you," I said.
We talked a little about the coronavirus but not much. I told him that I haven't been able to hug or kiss my grandkids since March 17 and he said, "Well, I always say you have to balance risk versus quality of life," so there is that to ponder...
And he told me that I am in excellent health and he'll see me next year.
He also gave me a new patient stack of forms for Lily to fill out because she wants to become one of his patients. She suffers from the same medical-anxiety that I do and knows several of his patients who all love him.

On my way home I stopped at Costco for a few things and then, at the request of my husband, went through a car wash so the outside of my car looks pretty good while the inside of it smells like Panacea at low tide due to a small bait bucket leakage incident yesterday.
Oh well.

Then I dropped off the new patient packet to Lily and came on home and did a few chores and then laid down to take a little nap but ended up sleeping for an hour. Nothing like the sudden release of sheer panic to wear a girl out. I'm cooking some of the beautiful field peas that Mr. Moon shelled the other day. It's going to be the simplest supper. The peas, some cornbread, sliced tomatoes and cucumbers. That's summer. Right there.

Because I'm a human I'm worried about the new chick not eating or drinking since she's up in the nest with her mama. I mean, chickens don't lactate. I cooked a scrambled egg and mixed it with yogurt and put it in front of Dottie and the baby who showed no interest in it but her mother ate it up like a beast. I have to trust that Dottie knows what to do.

I sure wish we humans knew what to do. I sure wish we humans were incredibly intelligent animals. I sure wish all doctors were as sweet as mine.
I sure wish we could grow fresh tomatoes all year long.

Can we chat tomorrow?
I hope so.

Love...Ms. Moon





28 comments:

  1. waking up to a new, healthy chick is a good way to start ones day! A friend texted me yesterday telling me her first sunflower opened up and THAT made her day...... it's the small things. Glad appointment went nicely....anxiety aside.....you'll probably sleep well tonight!
    Susan M

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    1. It most definitely is the small things.
      I did sleep very well.

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  2. A good appointment for you is a good way to end my day. Well done. New peas, tomatoes, cucumbers and cornbread would be a mighty fine supper any day. I have cucumbers most every evening now. They are good at the grocery, and I sure know how to make cornbread. I even bought sour milk to make some.

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    1. I bought more buttermilk today. Is that what you call sour milk? We're eating a lot of cucumbers too and will be for quite awhile.

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  3. our summer meal tonight is watermelon, a green salad, and baked zucchini. husband is trying to lose some of his gut. suits me fine for all kinds of reasons. and I'm sure Dottie knows exactly how to care for her bebe.

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    1. That sounds like a decent supper. I bought a watermelon today.

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  4. Now that is a good way to start your day. That little chick is adorable! Thank goodness your doctor's appointment is behind you now and that everything checked out good. I always feel better when I have those appointments behind me. That simple supper sure sounds good. We're having red beans and rice with cornbread tomorrow and I'm looking forward to it.

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    1. I think I'll be making some black beans tomorrow.
      Isn't that chick just the sweetest?

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  5. I feel for you when it comes to medical appointment anxiety and I can relate! That one little chick is delightful! -Jenn

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    1. It's a terrible anxiety to have. It is actually a very bad thing for our health, you know?

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  6. Glad you survived your doctor's appointment. That baby chick is sweet. It's been raining here all day and it was cool when we got home I had to turn on the heat. Yay summer:)

    Stay safe my friend.

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    1. Turn on the heat? I can't even imagine at this point. Are we on the same planet?
      You stay safe too, dear woman.

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  7. Your doctor sounds just lovely. I know what you mean about the release of anxiety though. I bet your nap was heavenly. Glad you’re healthy and all your beloveds too. I shall ponder your doctors advice about risk vs quality of life as I finally get to visit with my son this week. I’m going to hug him too.

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    1. Almost all naps are heavenly in my opinion.
      Hug that son with all the love in your heart. Makes me happy to think about.

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  8. That chick is so beautiful but it shows how much I know about chickens because feeding them scrambled eggs kinda smacks of cannibalism to me! I have my doctor appointment next week and it's nothing like yours. Mine likes to talk about baking - but I'm lying there butt naked with my legs in stirrups and his nose up my bum. Guess he's gonna schedule a mammo too so I have that to look forward to. Men don't know they're born do they!

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    1. Chickens actually love eggs. They love to eat chicken too. I know it sounds horrible but they are extremely good at finding protein where they can and creating more.
      My doctor doesn't do those exams. Thank goodness. I go to an older guy for that. We have chatted about Cozumel while I was in the stirrups though. Oh, how fun it is to be a woman!

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  9. "Dr Zorn" sounds like a cackling evil professor in some science fiction invasion movie. Perhaps he should change his name to Dr Goodfellow or Dr Summerdays. It's nice to come across health professionals who genuinely care and treat you with respect and understanding. They are not all like that. To some we are just numbers.

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    1. Dr. Z. is from a family of doctors. There are at least three doctor Zorns in Tallahassee that I know of. They're all good doctors.

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  10. thinking of you all and glad the dr visit went well. i need to see my ob/gyn and i may have to do a televisit....we also have self-swab COvID testing here now, hope my dr doesn't hear about that because i am not doing my own pap....

    xxalainaxx

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    1. Ha! You definitely made me laugh.
      But I would do my own pap if it meant getting away without going to see the Ob/Gyn.

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  11. Glad the doctor visit went well and that the blood work looked good. A load off your anxious mind and heart. Went for my blood work early this morning. No problems--wearing mask and only one there until I was leaving. But the drive back home was through a massive thunderstorm. Tons of lightning and a torrential downpour. Roads were overwhelmed with water, tree limbs coming down. Sheesh. Not a fun drive at 7:30am without having had my morning tea (fasting). Luckily, my garage is connected to the house, so I drove straight in and avoided getting drenched.

    Two doc appts in the next two weeks, but both are terrific women. I've been going to my primary for 20 years. Told her she's not allowed to retire until I'm gone.

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    1. Oh god- I would have hated driving through that. I'm glad you survived! And glad your garage is connected to your house.
      I'm glad that your doctors are both terrific. One of the things I like about mine the most is that he is so young and will definitely outlive me.

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  12. I'm sure Dottie knows what she's doing. But yeah -- what DO baby chicks eat?

    And thank goodness that doctor stuff is over. It's so small-town to bring snacks to a doctor's office. No one in the big city would do that, I don't think, and if they did, the snacks would be suspect. LOL! Or maybe I'm just too cynical.

    I bet that was a terrific nap. As you said, the release of anxiety!

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    1. Baby chicks eat pretty much whatever they can get their little beaks on. But they've got to be where they can get to food at the very least.
      It IS small town to bring a doctor's office food, isn't it? The receptionist sort of acted like it happens all the time. I wouldn't doubt that.

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  13. What a cute little baby chick! So sweet!

    I like the sound of your doctor. I sure wish I had one like him. :) If people bring him snacks he MUST be well-loved!

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    1. He is adored. I have actually taken him eggs.

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  14. Congratulations, a good doctor's visit and a baby chick!

    We always bring something to our GP at around xmas time, usually coffee and cookies or similar for the receptionists and staff. They deserve it and they are all lovely. But I admit I have ulterior motives here, I need them all to like me a lot.

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    1. Don't we all want to be our doctors' favorite patients?

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