Saturday was my birthday. I wanted wine and song. My daughter called from Ireland to wish me a grand year, and suggested I check the internet machine for our local beloved troubadour to see where he was playing. Miraculously, he was playing at a WINERY from 2:00 to 5:00 in the afternoon. In twenty minutes, my husband and I were at a wine tasting bar listening to great music. Serendipity rocks.
For 10 bucks we could taste all 17 wines on the menu. A designated driver was named (not me) and I, the birthday girl went for it. Now, Pennsylvania wines are usually quite awful, especially if you love wine. So we were pleasantly surprised when we enjoyed the flavor of some of these wines. The vintner was very proud. The chatter continued on in a lively and humorous fashion. We were all having fun. It turns out that my husband and the vitner graduated from the same high school in the same year. They actually know each other, but the intervening 2 score years (nice way of preserving their dignity) changed their remembrance of one another.
Okay, so I’m tipsy, singing, meeting new people, drinking some not half-bad wine, and my phone jangles. Well, it’s my birthday, so people have been contacting me all day. I pick it up with a big ass wine smile and say:
“Hello!”
“Hello, is this Cathy?”
“Yep, it sure is…who is this?”
“This is the cardiologist from the hospital. I want to discuss your brother-in-law’s condition.”
Uh-oh.
Can I tell you, that it was the most lucid and coherent conversation I have ever had with a physician.
I answered all his questions, gave him a supremely detailed medical history, discussed current medication, the possibility of new medication, the long term effects of those new meds, and what the physician would require in the future in terms of follow up and testing. All while standing outside in a snowbank because of the music and raucous crowd in the winery.
I asked every freaking question that came to mind, I questioned the doctor’s thought process concerning my brother-in-law’s medical history and future. I was rocking that conversation like I just graduated from medical school.
Clearly, I need to drink more wine.
“You just have to Laugh……..”
©2015 Cathy Sikorski