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SpectrumMar07.qxd 4/26/2007 4:50 PM Page 36
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doctor instructed me to take a stress test to evaluate
my heart functions. Guess what? I started
stressing about my stress test and it was two weeks
away. In fact, it was all I could talk about, and my
family, friends and co-workers were getting annoyed
at my stress level. Is this what it is like to grow older?
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So the big day came, and when I arrived at the clinic
— I had called twice, okay three times, the prior
week to ask questions about the test — the nurse was
familiar with my name. I was told I needed to take
some more blood tests, meaning I had to get blood
drawn — stress. I went into what I call the “bloodsucking
area” of the clinic and the process started. Of
course, once I was seated and strapped in, the vampire
missed the first vein on my right arm — that has
never happened before — so she had to get it from
the other arm. That went fine and once it was completed,
I was led to the treadmill area with bandages
on both arms — that has got to affect the results of
the stress test, right? They said no.
First, one of the two women administering the test
asked why I was there. Well, I have started a new
exercise program, am overweight, have high cholesterol,
have a family history of heart disease, am
stressed, should I go on? She got the picture. First
they took my blood pressure and were concerned it
was too high — try the large cuff and see if it makes
a difference. It did, and then they explained the test
procedures, stripped me of my shirt — god, I hope
they’re not looking — strapped all these wires and
suction things to my body, and we were good to go.
I started walking at a slow pace and they took my
blood pressure after each level I completed. I felt
good. Actually, I was thinking if we stayed at this
pace I could get a short workout and not have to go
to the gym later. Then, as I completed each level and
moved on to the next, I had to start running, until it
was too much — I mean, I was running in high
mode. She asked if I could go on (whether I was able
to complete the test). I was like, hell no, gals, I am
not a sprint runner, good lord! I am done.
Then they instructed me to immediately step off the
treadmill — no problem — and lie down on the table
so they could take an EKG. I was sweating all over
the place, with two bandages on my arms and my
excess waist skin hanging everywhere, my heart
pumping as if I had just run a marathon, and they
started to put this scope thing around the outside of
my heart. I just wanted to go home and write as I listened
to what I interpreted as my heart muscles
pumping extremely fast and hard — and it actually
felt good.
After the test had been completed, a quiet fell over
the room, as if they were looking at the results and
saying, “Poor guy is going to die,” or something. Of
course they could not tell me any of the results, even
after I said that I am not the type of person who can
wait for anything, let alone results of tests that could
determine my future. Then one of them said that if
there was any problem someone would call me
tonight or tomorrow, after the cardiologist looks at
the results — STRESS! Needless to say, I kept my
cell phone with me at all times and even heard it ring
when it hadn’t. Thankfully, I have call waiting,
because if I did not I would not have talked to anyone.
I so hoped they would not call; if they had, I would
probably have had a heart attack on the spot. I even
called the clinic to make sure they had my correct
number, but I heard nothing. Until my doctor’s
nurse called two weeks later to tell me he wanted to
schedule an appointment to go over the tests. What
does that mean? Is there minor damage that the test
showed? Or did they not notice something major? To
make matters worse, he could not see me until the
end of March — can I wait that long? I can, and I
will not talk to anyone about it.
Regardless, the whole experience was a WAKE-UP
CALL for me. So I am on a mission now. I need to
concentrate on myself and do as much for myself as
I do for others. At least, that is what people tell me.
Lose some weight, step up the exercise even more
and make this a life-changing experience, as it would
have been had there been a problem. I now have
peace of mind, knowing that I have a healthy heart,
and that was worth any stress I went through.
Maybe it will be so for you too?
* * * * *
I recently ventured into San Carlos and was pulled
over in my Jeep — didn’t they know I had just had a
stress test? — by what I found out was one of the
city’s traffic officers. I wondered why I had been
pulled over. I wasn’t speeding, I waited for the light
to turn green and, once it did, the red lights were
flashing in my rearview mirror. I found out that my
license plate light was burned out. Are you kidding
me?
So to make a long story
short, I fixed the light, had
the ticket signed off by one
of our finest and proceeded
to traffic court to turn it in
and pay a $10 processing
fee. Once I got there, of
course there was a line, but
I had made time for it, so I
did not mind. Looking
around, I was greeted by an
active business owner in
our community as well as
by an elected official. Yes,
they really do have to follow
the laws and procedures
just like we do.
Why is it that when you
talk with anyone in traffic
court, they consistently
inform everyone of how it
was not their fault? As if
there is a conspiracy to give
them a ticket. I mean, it’s
not a stress test! Get over
it, see the judge, pay the
fine and move on with your
life, people. Don’t bother
me when I’ve got so much
on my mind — I could be
dying and not even know
until I see my doctor. It’s
all about perspective,
wouldn’t you say? I think it
was the first time I actually
did not mind paying and
waiting in that wretched
line.
* * * * *
To say that the new parking meters in the downtown
area are causing confusion and frustration is a total
understatement. In fact, it is downright detouring
many from visiting our community and providing
some much-needed sales-tax dollars, let alone spending
money at a business or two. The system itself is
very easy and convenient to use, but you would not
know that by the long lines and comments heard
from users every day since they have been installed
and activated.
City staff will tell us to hang on, that this is just customers
getting used to the new system, and that all
will be fine once they learn how to use the meters.
Maybe so, but after people realize that the parking
tickets have increased from $25 to $35, that not all
lots are designated the same hourly pricing, and that
it is almost impossible to park during the day in any
of the parking structures that can be validated by a
business, things will change. Unfortunately, I fear the
change will be that visitors will reject the parking
system and go elsewhere. Will this ever end?
* * * * *
Thankfully, I did not have to pay for parking when I
was visiting the clinic for my stress test.
As I was saying…
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