Health care in Italy: Part 4...
Archive post October 18, 2019…
Got an hip op date! This coming Tuesday, the 22nd of October. The phone call came through last Friday before pranzo. I had a hunch. And, it came true! And, finall-yyy!!! The nurse… il Capo Sala… was a whole lot nicer than from the last time I spoke with her. She talked as if awarding me a prize. She was. I thanked her enthusiastically. She seemed to appreciate in having made my day. Always willing to oblige whenever I can. Then, my stomach went into YIKES!!!
First thing I did was check the 10 day forecast. It’s supposed to rain the entire time I am out of action in the hospital and in rehab. Fine for me, not for someone else: You will be miserable. Hope he has an interesting book to read while keeping me company post-op. His presence was nick ‘n tuck there. You launched his BOMB over the cellphone from work…
always hectic these furtive telecommunications in the spaces between patients and not particularly conducive to receiving Bad News and/or, of taking A Position contrary to another’s innocent expectations…
that he might not be able to come down for my hip op. WHAT??? Here’s our tele-conversation…
Previous commitments? What previous commitments? More IMPORTANT than me? Had I known a date for your operation, I might be able… YOU!!! We’ve known about this hip operation from the first of June for October! Listen to me, I am not asking you to care for the Dogs. No. I am not asking you to stay the entire week, while I hobble around on crutches and confront the challenge of finding absolutely delectable a boiled chicken fillet and a baked apple for breakfast, lunch & dinner 8 days straight. No. I’m not even asking you to take me to and retrieve me from the hospital. No. I AM ASKING, however, FOR YOUR ESTEEMED PRESENCE on the day of the hip-op, staying the night at il Poggiolo, in case I FREAK-OUT or something, and then, you may go away, to return 6 to 7 days later with Our Adored Canines brought down to GREET ME upon my happy arrival at the Appartamento Azzurro from their sojourn in Genoa with the Dog Sitter. I will liberally dispense Big Kisses to all present… you included… but, No Show, No Big Kisses, kiddo. 3 days max. Not the 10 from the previous hip-op. You managed to cough out… Vediamo…. then, he signed OFF.
I immediately confided with the 2 Best Persons around… My English Friend and My German Friend. There aren’t any Frewnch Persons about in my part of the Lunigiana or, I would have included 1 to form a pan-European triumvirate of Moral Support. The 2 Best Persons I had were enough. They applauded my formulated Plan Of Action: I would say nothing. Let the cards splatter all over if they must, just like My Sister pulled on me when proposing a new, fun card game: 52 Pick-up. I’m such a dupe. I wasn’t amused then and, I was holding back from being seriously not amused this time. My Innate Christian Patience once again came to the fore. Now, with the op date, You changed his position: he is supposed to arrive this evening, Friday, for the weekend… Golly!… take me to the hospital on the Monday, and be around when I am wheeled back into the hospital room gassed happy on morphine. A miracle drug, by the way. You may retire for ONE NIGHT ONLY at il Poggiolo, if I happen to FREAK-OUT or something.
Bag is packed. I will be dressed similarly to a low-cost airline attendant from 1 of those Central Asian countries: blue or, black pull-on pants, white T- or polo-shirts and the ugliest pair of black slip-ons to have ever escaped a Chinese shoe factory: plastic clogs which, the 10 1/2 I had ordered off amazon.it are a bit more than just slightly shy size-wise. And, you cannot stretch plastic like you can leather. But try to find a leather slip-on costing less than the GPA of an, again, 1 of those Central Asian countries. I have all my meds, soaps and socks too. Crutches, the elevated toilet and the all-important pappagallo are at the ready. Oh, and The Odyssey, my chosen book to see me through. Currently, Odysseus is dealing with the Dead. Should never have offended the Gods.
Dogs are packed. Dry and canned food galore. Nina-beenas has her meds. Crackers & Emmental cheese for treats. You & I will drive them North on Sunday morning…. in the predicted rain… to leave them with the Dog Sitter. We will be back by late Sunday afternoon. Enough time for me to get nervous.
You will be supplied with groceries, Euro’s and the heat will be ON in his BR.
Next transmission and I… will… have… a… new… left… hip!!! Wish me luck?