Well, fellas and girls, yesterday was interesting. Got up at the usual, poured my coffee, and sat down at the laptop, figuring I'd top off Friday's entry, as usual. I had barely started when I realized my right arm, about from wrist to elbow, felt numb. Since "Horrified Alarm" is my middle name, I immediately assumed I was having a stroke. Feverishly tried to decide what to do and, being already partly dressed, I pressed the button on my medic alert. It was answered immediately and my stats--name, address, symptoms and so on--were solicited. I opened my front door and remarkably quickly, two young men were at the door, then four others came in. I was asked to sit on the couch, I explained my symptoms and my vitals were taken and recorded. They then gently helped me onto a stretcher and off we went to Community Memorial's emergency room.
There, all kinds of other tests were done and I was carefully questioned. I assume this is standard procedure and it included being asked my name, address, and age about twenty times, I guess to test memory. The finale was the scan (of my head) and no cause for alarm was shown (aside from the BP, which I'll address with Primary Medical).*
Dear Ellen came to pick me up about 2:00 and we went immediately to the Wood Ranch for lunch, then home. Home, we were sitting on the patio and chatting when we heard a loud, kind of explosive sound from the direction of Telegraph Road. It didn't sound like a backfire to me and Ell saw a flash of light. Later, the electricity went out. It was still only about 4:00, so we just thought it was unrelated to the flash, but now I think it is. Of course, you never appreciate the lack of utilities until you don't have them anymore, and boy, I don't like being dark.
Got out my battery operated light and settled in to wait it out. The Vickie called and we decided to get together to talk over the situations. I hauled out a number of candles, lit them, and we sat on the couch discussing this and that. She's going to her high school graduation in Maine today, while El and I will drive to L.A. to scatter ashes. Incredibly, Vickie was born two years after I graduated from high school--well, it seems incredible to me. As she was leaving, Suzanne's kid brother, Glen--he's a doctor n San Diego--came up and we said hello.
Okay, that was yesterday, Saturday, July 26, and this is Sunday, July 27, at 12:42 p.m., and I'm going to hang this up.
*I can hardly express how kind, competent, and solicitous the ambulance crew, doctors, nurses, and all other staff were at the hospital. I sometimes forget that, besides working to earn a living, people I've met in that profession have been the same. They should be proud and Ventura should be proud of them.
🍅🍅🍅🍅🍅🍅🍅🍅🍅🍅
2 comments:
That must have been scary as all get out. You did the right thing pushing your call system. I’m assuming you are fine but to what did they attribute the numbness.? I’d think a pinched nerve but you’d made your coffee and must have used that arm. Anyhow, glad you are AOK. If you have the time you might consider sending those kind words to the ER staff. It’s always appreciated.
That comment wasn’t anonymous…it was me from AC.
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