I have had small victories in a season of frustration
- col-lee-elliot-aging-graciously
- July 30, 2025
- 168
I’ve had an annoying hip problem since last March. I am finally in the process of solving it in July, after having been trying all that time. Health care seems to be in a tenuous spot right now. The left computer doesn’t seem to know what the right computer is about, and it is impossible to find a new doctor in this area.
My original doctor, who I really liked, moved from the area, so I set about finding another. Most of the posts on the internet say local doctors are taking new patients. They just don’t say it will be three to six months before they can see you. With some you can see their NPs or PAs, who, in my experience, are anxious to prescribe but not anxious to examine or diagnose.
The doctor I found has seen me twice in three years. The phone message at the office says, “Please leave a message and someone will get back to you in the next 24 hours.” If I am sick or injured now, I don’t want to make an appointment for two weeks out 24 hours later. Since I don’t seek medical help unless I am really in trouble, I am insulted. I feel abandoned.
This week I set about finding someone to help with the hip. This week, after three different tries, I found someone.
I don’t think I should mention names, but Dr. Dutchman will know who I’m talking about. When I finally got to this practice, I received a timely appointment, a thorough examination, a possible diagnosis and referral to further treatment — within a reasonable time period. I am more grateful than I can say. To the woman at the facility before this one, who did not understand me when I asked, “Do you take limp-ins?” sorry … it was a joke.
Total subject change here: I am overwhelmed by the garden this year. Last year’s was straggly, having a hard time producing. This year, I guess because of the weather, it is voluminous. My sunflowers are 10 feet tall. You have to go into the neighbor’s yard to see their blooms. I always plant several cucumber plants as potential pickle and relish bearers. I chose to cut back to one plant this year, and I think it worried that it couldn’t be enough.
Enough cucumbers the size of large zucchinis came on overnight, every night. Zucchinis followed suit, bloating to 6-pound monsters before I could stop them. Pumpkin plants have crawled from one box to fill any empty spaces they can find in the yard and garden. I am just saying thank you as I can and freeze almost daily and contemplate donating to anyone who comes to the door. Surely Amazon deliverers, mail carriers, young kids seeking to do yard work and good old friends need some very large cucumbers.
It is hard to believe we are already passing the middle of summer and headed toward fall. Time, at this age, goes so quickly you hardly have time to savor it. I guess we should all be aware of small victories like those I am experiencing and try to enjoy them at their fullest. Fall will be here before we know it.