where everybody knows your name

even thought they know your name, they ask you all the time anyway, and then what is your birthdate, just to make sure you are you but they all know your name. hi linda hi linda good morning linda how are you linda...

there is much to do in pre-op, lots of questions and a new outfit with vacuum cleaner hose holes and fuzzy socks with treads, a cap for later. i was uneasy and nervous when the double doors outside my cube burst open and a gigantic man with big blue jeans, a black polo shirt and a worn out canvas brief case barreled his presence into pre-op. he tried to sneak by my bed but nice nurse tammi nabbed him and there he was towering over me grabbing at my right hand. he was the pillsbury dough boy crossed with an old ray bolger with a little bit of jack nicholson attitude.

the nurse said "we were just going to find a good vein but then we saw you and you are so much better at it"... and without even saying hello he flicked the top of my right hand hard with long knockworst fingers and then smacked it again and within a second the needle was deep in my vein and i was iv ready. this big old grumpy grampa in a black polo shirt did it almost with his eyes closed, taped it all down and that was that.

off he went and nice nurse said "he just happened to be on his way in and i grabbed him, he's the best. he will be your anesthesiologist"

uh oh.

i was crying when they wheeled me into the operating room which has become my habit and it comforts me that no one notices or is bothered by it. there are so many of them and there is so much to do and they each have their special tasks. the way they took charge of every piece of me was so comforting. i had no idea what was happening, but to them, it was just a wednesday morning.

ok linda we're going to slide you over, put your bottom right above that hole. we're going to wrap you up and tuck your arms under you. now we are wrapping your legs with these these pressure cuffs to keep your blood moving nicely and we are going to put lots of stickers on you, sit up just a little honey, ok lie back down linda now you are going to start to feel relaxed...

bring it on dr b.

many hours later, in the middle of the night, a storm rolled in over downtown minneapolis and i was so glad it was all over. time for a check of vitals and a dose of an iv blood product, which of course required the nurse to ask me my name again.

what's your name honey?

mariah carey.

:)