random thoughts – Day 2,240 (Tuesday) – changes

When I had my annual visit with the primary care doctor several months ago, she referred me for a DEXA scan. I somehow missed this note. A week or so ago, a call came from Lowell General Hospital to schedule said scan before the referral expired. Today was the day.  

DEXA scan day.

Instead of the usual routing via Routes 2 and I-495, which must have been extra horrid, Waze navigated me through a series of small towns where the traffic was light and the roadsides were scenic. The routing swapped out stressful highways for rolling farmland, barns, dairy farms, a wedding venue, an ice cream stand, and quaint town centers. It was a beautiful.

The technician was fun to chat with and scan was over quickly. We covered a lot of topics, including lost medical records, aging parents, and living in the south versus the northeast. We both felt we were at our peak physical shape at 50 when she was running half-marathons and I was playing roller derby, but things have changed. I would love to have my derby legs, butt, and stamina again.

The hospital gift shop is located near the entrance and I always stop in on the way out. There was the usual hospital gift shop items of stuffed animals and balloons on sticks and personal care items. Today, there were extra special surprises with a window display featuring rhinestone encrusted hard shell evening bags. A rack with logo sweatshirts included sequin shawls. Shelves displayed items for the upcoming parental celebration days for mothers and fathers.

The version of me from the 1990s through about 2018 would have pulled out a credit card and bought a fancy purse and a sequin shawl or two without a second thought. That version of me also had a high likelihood (or reasonable hope) of using said fancy items at dressy company Christmas parties, New Year’s Eve shindigs, or any number of fundraiser galas. Today’s version of me resisted. For one thing, the memory of all the fancy handbags and shawls and jackets that live untouched in boxes and closets is still fresh because it wasn’t that long ago all that stuff was moved into the new house. And now my blingy desires have changed and are regulaly met with belly dance costumes.