ADDICTION? WHAT ADDICTION?

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‘No food in the past 12 hours and no alcohol for 24 hours?’ The lady behind the counter was stamping my papers as she asked the question.

‘What?’ I exclaimed. ‘The doctor’s paper said nothing but water for 12 hours! Whaddya mean 24 hours?’

The stamping halted. She gazed at me over her glasses. ’24 hours’, she stressed. ‘It was written in the e-mail we send you with the confirmation of the appointment.’

‘But the doctor’s paper said….’ I stopped when she gave me the look. Damn, but I hate to be on the receiving end of the look! I had just noted the hour and time in the e-mail, and, being in the usual hurry, had not looked at any of the fine print. The guilty doth loudly protest.

‘I was going by the doctor’s paper. I had a glass of wine around 4:30 yesterday afternoon.’ I growled at her, my tone implying that it was HER fault. ‘So now what?’

She shrugged as she handed my papers back to me. ‘You’re the one paying,’ she answered. ‘We’ll do part of the tests today, and I can give you another appointment for tomorrow morning IF you follow directions.’

‘And do this all over again?’ My growl went from a rumble to a near roar. I glared at her. Her next words accompanied by an understanding smile completely disarmed me.

‘You have about 30 minutes before they call you, and there’s a restaurant just around the corner. Great coffee.’

Obviously I wasn’t the only grumpy patient she had encountered in her job, and she was well aware of the cause. All of a sudden she was my new best friend! I was out of there and gratefully sipping on my first cup of sweet, black nectar within seconds. It’s astounding how quickly my attitude changed. I slipped back into the waiting room, and bashfully confirmed my appointment for Saturday morning. I followed the rules, and the next day most of my tests were completed.

Habits. How difficult it is to break them! I decided to play a game with myself, see if I had the stuff it takes. Instead of bee-lining to the coffee shop when my tests were finished, I forced myself to do the 40 minute drive to my daughter’s house. I had warned her by telephone, and the wonderful aroma of my addiction greeted me when I stepped inside her door. Self-defense, my daughter called it, LOL!

But, hey, I did it! It showed me that if I have to, I can. Maybe I should list some of my other habits and break them one by one. I think I’ll do just that today…when I’ve finished my second cup of coffee.

After all, it doesn’t pay to take ourselves TOO seriously!!!

Sending you a wink and a SMILE, folks.

Luv from the Bush in Quebec

MORNING BLUES

Yesterday morning, I hit the floor running. I try not to schedule appointments until 10 AM, mostly because arriving on time depends on the traffic rush hour, and I don’t like the stress of worrying about being late. This appointment was at the client’s office, which is on the outskirts of the city, and I felt safe accepting to meet at 8:30 AM. I just never learn!

I woke up late. This does not happen when I have NO need to be at a certain place for a certain time, but just let me confirm a meeting, and my body does an ‘about face’! It doesn’t help that it takes me so much longer than it used to before I am fully conscious. I won’t even attempt to make coffee too quickly after I get out of bed – the water may end up in the coffee can, and I’ve been known to dump the coffee where the water should go. What a mess that was!!

What has happened? I can remember jumping out of bed, into the shower, having breakfast on the table and the kids up and ready for school, getting dressed and out the door myself – all within an hour. I often managed to get a load of wash folded too. Let’s see – that was….THIRTY years ago??? Okay – no further questions, LOL.

To continue, I did make it on time for my meeting…by the skin of my teeth…and slightly scruffy. I’m not sure I paid enough attention to my hair, or what I threw on as clothes. I checked later and nothing was inside out, so it wasn’t completely hopeless. Fortunately, whatever papers were required had been prepared the night before, so I may even have seemed efficient. I can’t really remember the drive to get there though. But the client served me coffee, and my notes are legible, so we’ll leave it at ‘all’s well that ends well’.

I blame it, in part, on Kilroy. His absence totally screwed up my morning schedule. He’s back now, Once more I can pour my coffee (love those machines with timers!!), then sleepwalk into my office and bring up his Blog. It’s like the bell training mice to eat. My brain comes alive. Karen told me she feels the same about MY blog – so I am determined to be a daily writer again. I know the withdrawal pains, and no-one puts a friend through that on purpose. Just to be safe, I gave her Kilroy’s address. Now she has something to fall back on when I do get up too late to keep my resolution.

Once more – it is time to go. In fact, it is past time. Those horoscope people were way wrong about the windfall, but I’m still above ground, so I’m SMILING!
Have yourselves a great day, people. Don’t forget your SMILES, especially if your day isn’t going so well. It somehow makes things just a little easier! (and that last phrase was for you, my friend Kilroy, LOL!)

Luv from the Bush in Quebec.