The Shot

So, Friday morning February 12, I paid Baldwin Park’s Kaiser Permanente a visit. And, this time, I was looking forward to the experience.

Like many dental patients, most of my hospital anxiety travels by special delivery with my anticipation. And lately my anticipation arrives labelled “fragile, handle with care.”

And it used to be my blood pressure would elevate as soon as I saw Nurse Ratched and the stethoscope. As years passed, the systolic number would climb as I pulled into the parking lot. For a couple of years, I bamboozled myself, my brain, and the nurse by announcing, “My BP is always higher as soon as I walk through the door; at home, it’s low.” Occasionally, my pre-measure announcement would actually work. But in my house, the BP was awesome.

Back in The Day, 2019, my blood pressure was totally my friend. I’d wake up early, go downstairs, set the lights to “dim,” go through my appreciation litany, close my eyes, and envision my breath super-slowly passing in through my nose and out through my mouth “Miyagi style.” I’d then start my sphygmomanometer like a classic Ferrari and wait for the Marathon-type runner results. I would post the results, single spaced on a legal pad. When I presented the stats to my internist, he looked at ‘em, looked at me, smiled, shook his head, and asked, “Really?”

Today, I look for positive quotes first thing in the morning; I use ‘em to start our morning huddle (If you can name the author first (I give clues), you win 10-bucks.) I monitor my blood pressure only once a week (Doctor’s orders). If I go OCD, I remain capable of psyching myself out while taking my own blood pressure.

And I’m on the board of directors for a powerful Invisalign organization, the American Academy of Clear Aligners (AACA); one of my jobs is writing a quarterly column for the journal. Another job is finding journal contributors. A third task is finding a quote to start every working day for our Morning Huddle WhatsApp chat group. I’ve discovered starting the day being positive, appreciative, and with a sense of humor makes an amazing difference; sharing the energy and words helps exponentially.

A year ago, almost to the day, my team and I were heading back from Nashville and the usual uplifting, invigorating, and heartwarming experience known as the Annual Crown Council Event (We even saw Dolly, live, at the Ryman Auditorium.) Within a month, the world changed courtesy of a pandemic.

Don’t know about you, but I’ve been nervous ever since. Every early morning cough or random sneeze has given me pause for concern. It took about a week for my rigorously washed hands to look 120-years old; then I discovered Gold Bond. I became suspicious of all those outside of TWO degrees of separation.

Returning to work helped. Interacting with friends (wearing layer upon layer of protection) helped. Writing notes helped. Looking for all things positive or humorous helped. Seeing the early prospect of a vaccine added hope.

Friday was a good day at Kaiser (they didn’t take my blood pressure.) I was fortunate enough to receive the Moderna vaccine, part two. Spent time with friends on the golf course all day; hiked around town during the early evening; and had a mild headache the next morning.

Today, I’m 100% physically, and getting there mentally.

When you have the chance, please get vaccinated; you’ll be serving yourself…and the people you love.

“Love recognizes no barriers. It jumps hurdles, leaps fences, and penetrates walls to arrive at its destination full of hope.” Maya Angelou