Kage Baker would have called for early closing tonight. I’m going to do that, too.
Saw the oncologist this afternoon, for another attempt at a biopsy. Very nice doctor, deft and careful and considerate – she was, however, defeated by the peculiarities of my personal architecture.
Dr. R: It won’t be comfortable, but it won’t hurt as much.
Me: (willing to believe) Cool.
Dr. R: And I’ll be careful, so you probably won’t bleed at all.
Me: Yes, I will.
Begin procedure, count to 10 or so – not too bad, the doctor really is good at what she does. Then she says Uh-oh – which is nothing you ever want a doctor to say – and I can tell right away it’s gonna be another mop job.
Much cleaning and patching later, the doctor is conferring sharply with her procedures clerk about how soon they can schedule surgery. So, when my cardiologist clears me, I’ll probably be in hospital sometime week after next to settle this. Which is the good news.
The bad news is that there is still considerably mystery as to what exactly is wrong with me – but they’re closing in on the culprit. Doctors are always advised that when you hear hoofbeats, you should expect horses: zebras are very rare, and odds are it’s just old Dobbin racing down the lane toward you. But keep your mind open, because sometimes – sometimes – the zebras are loose.
My problem is that the approaching herd is mostly horses. Probably. But there’s a small zebra in there as well; and they haven’t got his license plate yet.
But tonight I am tired and sore and light-headed. So I’m going to bed, Dear Readers.
Talk to you tomorrow.
Kathleen, Kage and the Company 
Sleep well, Kate. May all your zebras be benign ones.
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Flights of zebras… no no, that’s not right. Sleep sweetly.
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Do rest well, Kate. The zebra will be found, labeled, treated, and evicted, I’m just sorry that it’s such an arduous road from here to there. Very glad surgery is coming soon — I’m sure your cardiologist’s office knows that this is important and you need to be seen as soon as possible. Keep us posted, there are lots of Kate fans out here.
Carol
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Thanks, ladies. And Maggie – I loooove the flights of zebras!
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Continuing to pray. I am glad they’re proceeding so quickly, waiting is always the worst.
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We can be long distance surgery patients together. I’m going in on Halloween. Kaiser tried to find Zebras in my plumbing for the better part of a year, but it turns out it was just really unbreakable mustangs, thank goodness. Yours will hopefully just be a sister-wild mustang or two. Still keeping you in my prayers!
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Cath – you’re on my candle list, with an extra one on Halloween. Hospitals aren’t too bad on Halloween, if you bring your own chocolate … as for me, the zebras may turn out to be a good thing, as they are apparently highlighting a second, separate problem: I can get the serious and the trivial fixed all together, and be in much better shape!
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May your final test results show a complete absence of zebras, nothing here but a horse in a Halloween costume.
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Blessings to you!
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