SLEDGEHAMMER’S ON THE CASE

How can waiting be worse than knowing? Thurs morning was tough because I had no PLAN. I am an engineer. On one project I am known (affectionately, I hope) as “the hammer” because I get things done. Here I was with this unknown, unfathomly frightening diagnosis and not only did I not know what was next, but I didn’t know what to do to figure out what I could do next… I was waiting for the OBGYN to call me back with potential appointments. She said she’d call back by noon. At 1pm I was about jumping out of my skin (this is when jim invented the term “hawaii time”).
I punted. I called my dad…. Let him loose. Told him to figure it out—what doctors to go to, schedule the appointments, take care of the logistics.
I’ve got nothing on my dad in terms of getting things done (maybe he should be called “the sledgehammer?”). When I asked him to help me his voice completely changed. Out with the dejection. In with the purpose. “I’m on the case,” he assured me.
We both felt better.

About 15 minutes later the OBGYN called. (I conferenced in my dad to the phone call—so glad to have someone else listening for me). She had set up a meeting the next day at 11:45 with a surgeon and an MRI at 3pm. We had a plan. I need to get a 2006 daytimer.