Jewells of Thought

Honestly with a few different layers of stress falling on me every day or every other day I didn’t want to get up that morning. What I didn’t understand was that my younger brother would be working early that morning and I had thought he might accompany Mom while Dad had his appointment. So I slept in and didn’t think much about anything but the stress that was building up in my mind.

When I finally got up it was much closer to the time they had to leave for the appointment. That didn’t give me much time to sober up and make some quick decisions based on Mom’s personal desires. We both remembered earlier this year when we waited on my uncle for an hour for his MRI. I tend to have a hard time saying ‘NO’ to Mom. It also gave me some time to think about how to work through my stressors.

Dad doesn’t normally go to Vincennes or Good Samaritan for services it’s far and few between. Our doctors and nurses send us primarily to Sullivan or Terre Haute, yet this year my Uncle’s been sent to Neurology down there as I have been for the past year and a half. Dad was asking questions about this and that and it became quite clear he hasn’t been down there for a long time. I still remember when they took me to my first Carpal Tunnel test down there in the hospital. It’s funny though things change. My Neurologist works outside of the hospital now, but I know my parents were both with me and the test hurt my hand it was like the day before July 4th nearly a decade ago now.

Still Dad thought the front of the hospital was the ER side it’s not. Now the front side is on the south side and it’s called the Pavilion. I just had to marvel at all of this on the way down to his appointment. Nothing ever stays the same, but ironically my neurologist said he would be retiring after that test he is once again my doctor and has been for the past year. Seeing him now though is different because his office is to the side of the hospital it’s much more cozier and doesn’t feel like the hospital.

Mom and I had told him pretty much what to expect. There’s a sign-in and he would have to answer pages of questions but then we would be directed to the other side of the hospital for the photos. It was a good walk. The only difference is that Dad’s job added another slight addition he had to have a little exam with his eyes by a staff member before heading to the MRI lab.

Like deja Vu Mom and I took the same seats we had before… just a few months ago. No one else was there waiting. It did seem like even though the guy came in pretty quickly to get Dad’s paperwork there was still a while to wait before he took Dad back inside. There’s also a television set in the little lobby area and all of a sudden I looked up and like a blast from the past Regis Philbin was on with one of his hit shows. This was his comedy flavored ‘Who Wants To Be A Millionaire.” The first celebrity was Bill Maher, ironically the day I was watching this show Maher was slated to be on the Gutfeld show that very evening. So I took an interest in this Liberal Democrat’s version of comedy from years ago unfortunately the psychopath Kathy Griffin was also among the comedians on this edition of the show.

However, as long as it did take for them to call Dad back it didn’t take them as long. He was back there for less than an hour. On the way back to the Pavilion Mom was left with my book and purse as I and Dad decided to use the bathroom before we left. Even in the bathroom I could hear Dad as he was finished and walked back to Mom as he was stunned to meet some friends and fellow farmers. Talk about a God thing, sometimes you still can’ imagine what God will put into your lap through your day.

We have known this family for what seems like forever. Instantly in my mind Agrigold dinners came to mind, mostly in Montgomery at the awesome Gasthof Restaurant. We would always be in a back room and have a PowerPoint Presentation after we had eaten from the buffet. Photos of corn and beans and dirt seeds and seedlings; all of this semi and not so interesting stuff to listen and watch through our dinner sessions. For the longest time my brothers and I were baby-set by my uncles or whoever could. When we got to the right age and literally became a part of our farm it was fun and knowledgeable to go to feel important our farm was our bread and butter for our family. This man was our Agrigold representative but also a good friend and his father was with him.

Seeing these men just brought back so many memories for me as I said dinners I couldn’t go to and then we ate at other restaurants including down at French Lick I don’t remember if this was Agrigold, I think this was with Ceres Solutions that was a really fun night.

My parents and these guys talked for what seemed like 20 minutes. There was a lot to say. It was a very hot day though and we finally all said goodbye and wished each other well with the problems that led us to this hospital.

Then we had a big decision to make!

There is a very good Amish Buffet in Vincennes called Dogwood BBQ. I don’t know I think my parents were already thinking about this place before it was decision time. We have also spent a lot of good times in this restaurant together. We just have had a lot of good times in Amish Buffet’s with farm meetings and with family gatherings. You make the time you have special Grandpa Freddy was good at doing that with us. Making memories that I can now see in every day and place that they exist in from those good older days with my loved ones. Even an appointment can be made into a lasting experience and moment to cherish.