There, in the mirror, I could see a small wart had formed on the side of my nose. Now everybody knows just who it is that has warts on the side of her nose, a witch.
Of course, my son, Doug, was quick to remind me of that very fact.
I chased him out of the kitchen with a long handled wooden spoon, shades of back when he was six. If you’ve ever had to wait for a doctor appointment — especially one that’s going to be as dramatic a diagnosis as cancer — you can imagine what it was like for me to have to wait day after day after day to just get the PET scan done.
Then, having the test postponed, not once but twice, had me crazy. I was going around the house saying, “I think I’ll just disappear” or words to that affect. The first time we’d gone into Carson City I had whatever it is they put in your veins. Then I sat and waited over an hour only to find out the testing machine thingy had broken down.
Now at last, weeks later, I again sat waiting to take my test. This time the machine worked just fine, thank you. Then came the waiting game, which had really begun weeks ago. Doug, knowing how impatient I am and thinking perhaps it would be nice to get me out of the house, took me out to eat — over this crazy month — four or five times.
It was fun, and I enjoyed myself immensely, this foodie that I’ve become in my old age. We had an early breakfast, the day after our first unsuccessful PET attempt, at a restaurant close to home and Leeteville Junction. Then, a week later, it was off for lunch where they make their home homemade potato chips and the best bourbon and seven anywhere in town.
This restaurant’s sandwiches are different and delicious, and the entire dining room and all of the tables outside were filled. Just outside the window, which was beside our table, I saw a dear friend and waved to her through the glass. We used to be neighbors, and she has become a fixture here in town. It was good to see her looking well.
I had pastrami on rye and two glasses of my favorite libation. Hey, I was going through a stressful waiting game and felt this 90 year-old deserved anything she wanted. Then it was home to turn on television to watch an assortment of shows as I continued working on my crewel designs. I’m making one for the Boys and Girls club and one for CAPS, so I needed to get busy.
Then re-runs of the latest Wahlbergers show came on. I immediately put down my work to watch and laugh. There’s something interesting and addictive about this family and how they handle the fame that has so rightly come their way. Brother Mark is in tons of movies, including “The Shooter” and “Four Brothers.” Brother Donnie can be seen every Friday night on Blue Bloods.
Their brother Paul is the chef who runs the Wahlbergers restaurants. Mark and Donnie constantly tease Paul, who’s seemingly naïve and oblivious to what his brothers are doing. One scene shows Mark’s first car, a very nice black job, and Paul talked about what a nice car it was and how Donnie’s car was a great looking convertible. His own vehicle, he said, was a poopie brown job. I just howled.
The rest of the week was normal. Except of course for the worrying. Then it was out to eat again, this time for breakfast where they serve things like egg sliders and my favorite, the one with English muffins, eggs, ham and hollandaise sauce. I ate too much. Home again to wait another week. I was a wreck. Doug or I had little sleep the night before we got my test results.
While the test was done in Carson City, Doug and I waited in the doctor’s office here in Fallon for the PET scan test results. To Evelyn dear, the lady who sent me an E-mail saying she was praying for me; a blessed thanks to you. The doctor came into the room with a huge grin on his face. The findings, all of them were normal. I cried in sheer relief.
As Craig Ferguson says on his Late-night show, “Hey, it’s OK, tomorrow’s just a future yesterday.” Here’s to many yesterdays.
Edna Van Leuven is a Churchill County writer and columnist. She may be reached at news@lahontanvalleynews.com
