January 18, 2005 – It Starts

It was a Tuesday, just like any other Tuesday, at 11:13am I received an Email from my wife…

FROM: YVONNE
TO: HART
SUBJECT: YOUR PHYSICAL

You have a physical with Dr. G. on March 28 at 2:30pm. It’s just one
appointment. He doesn’t do it in stages like Ian does.

Well .. just like that – “It Starts”. Honestly, that came out of the blue for me.

In all my years, I have never had a physical. I hate doctors. I hate dentists. I hate all forms of hospitals and people and relatives in hospitals. I think it stems way back from when my grandmother on my father’s side, “Baba”, died. I used to walk to her place two times a week during my school years between grades 2 and grade 6. I was at the hospital the exact moment she died. There are many hospital stories that I could give you, but they are not too relevant for now.

Anyway, we have been living in our part of town since 1997, and Yvonne immediately found a new family doctor, just down the street. It’s the IAN mentioned in the Email .. Dr. Ian something-or-other. He has a medical practice and is partnered with his father, “G” something-or-other. I don’t really know his first name, and I don’t really know their last name. Everyone is referred to either Dr. I. or Dr. G.

Well, Yvonne really liked this Dr. I. He is a young doctor, maybe late 30’s? She already has had a physical, been there for a few ailments, etc. etc. It was 2002 before I had a need to go to any doctor, for my foot. I wanted to get X-Rays to see if I cracked something inside it. But, I never had a family doctor. Naturally, Yvonne recommended Dr. I. So, I went and made an appointment with him.

But – Dr. I. was so popular and not taking any new patients. So, I was ‘assigned’ to be a patient of Dr. G., the father.

That explains the Doctor.

Yvonne knows that I hate doctors. She also knew that I hate the concept of a physical, because (like most men I figure) .. we don’t like strange fingers poking in areas that they don’t belong….

But – today – Yvonne had figured that I owed it to her to get a physical, to make sure that nothing is wrong with me, and if something was wrong with me, I could get proper medical attention, and not die and leave her alone.

Can’t argue with that…. BUT!! I tried.

I did remind her that in February 2004, when we were cancelled all of our revolving insurance on our mortgage, credit cards, etc .. to get a Term Policy insurance .. we both took a very extensive blood test, and I was given a good clean bill of health.

Well, one thing that I have never been able to do, is change Yvonne’s mind once it has been set, so … I marked March 28, 2005 on my calendar.

HART