A MONDAY

14 May 2007

      Some days just seem to have more little aggravations than others and this was one of those. Early I had to go to the post office to get one of those boxes provided to mail packages overseas to our service men. The young clerk reminded me that as of today, the postage will increase from $8.10 to $9.10. Oh well, what can I do? I have to mail the package.

      I return home to begin packing the box. About half way through, I remember that everything in the box must be listed on PS Form 2976-A (six copies….got to remember to press hard with the pen). I remove all the articles, carefully list the items on the form and re-pack the box. 

      The noise from the lawnmowers and weed eater alert me to the fact the lawn maintenance men have arrived. Only minutes before I had hung a load of wet clothes on the line to dry in the backyard. Because they would be in the way of the mower, I rushed to remove the clothes. As the young man came near the front driveway with the weed eater, I walk outside to tell him of some four-o’clock flowers near the back door. These are plants that grow from seeds that were passed down to me from my great-grandmother’s yard. As I began to tell the young man about the flowers, he said “Yeah, I know.” So, against my better judgment, I did not walk to the backyard and point out the flowers to him. You can imagine my frustration and anger when I walked out the back door, after the men had left, only to find my precious plants are gone. Zapped to the ground by the weed eater. Oh, well, I reason, they are only flowers. Calm down.

      I want to check my email and do some things on the Internet, but because I only have one phone line, I cannot do that. The phone line needs to be left open so my oncologist’s office can reach me. The lady from his office is to call today with the results of a C-scan I had last week. I remain off the computer and try not to watch the clock. Finally, I call the doctor’s office and ask about the results of the test. The lady was very patient, telling me the information is on the doctor’s desk, ready for him to review them. She assures me if she calls while I am away from the phone she will leave a message and I can call back.

      With that assurance, I’m off to the bank to purchase a U.S. Savings Bond for a young high school student. Well, wouldn’t you know it? The teller to whom I went was not familiar with the sale of bonds. Took a little longer than I had planned to be in the bank.

      Now it’s off to the post office to mail my package. Wow! Everyone in town seems to be there…..waiting in line to purchase new stamps because the rate increase went into effect today. Well, I can wait. There are people I know with whom I chat as we wait. Finally, it’s my turn. I present my package, along with the US Form 2976, completed in six copies, which will be placed in a plastic sleeve and attached to the box. But, wait, it’s not that simple. I had not written my name, address and the recipient’s name and address directly on the box. So I go to the end of the line, complete the necessary information and wait and wait, again. At last it is again my turn at the counter and there was a little good news. The clerk has given me incorrect information this morning. The package would not cost $9.10 but would only be $8.95. At last, some good news.

      Back at home I wait for the call from the doctor’s office. It is getting near 5:00 p.m…… the time the lady who gives the information leaves the office. This means another night to wonder about the results. Tomorrow I will be away from home for a while doing volunteer work, hoping I will get good news when the call finally comes. About the time I was giving up hope of hearing anything today, at 5:25 p.m. the phone rings. It is the oncologist’s office calling. Now, my heart is in my throat. Why is she calling so late? Is it bad news? Will the next voice I hear be that of the doctor himself giving me news? My mind races so fast and then I hear the words I have been praying for. “Your test results are just fine. See you in a year.” I thanked her profusely, just as if it were she who had anything to do with the outcome of the tests. After hanging up the phone, I said the prayer of thanksgiving for those wonderful words. God is so good.

      The day isn’t over yet, but the little things that upset me earlier in the day seem so insignificant.