A normal/not-so-normal-day

I woke up grumpy. Not normal.

Beautiful sunrise. Normal.

After coffee and Qi Gong with Jim, I still felt out of sorts, no energy. I sat; he gonged. Decided to go to the doctor. Definitely not normal.

Leo, who came to see if I needed anything from town, offered to take me and be my interpreter. “Do you want to see the cheap doctor or the good doctor?”

“I don’t care. I just want to make sure I don’t have pneumonia.” The “cheap” doctors are those who are working off government loans for education. I have been to them more than once. I got excellent care and diagnosis for 30 pesos. That is about $1.58.

Leo said, “I think you are depressed and worried.” What I heard was, “It’s all in your head.” Silently, I replied, “You can keep your think to yourself.”

Leo parked in front of the Paris Hospital. Dr. Fermin owns the small, private hospital. Leo made the choice for me.

After a thorough exam, Dr. Fermin said, interpreted loosely by me, “Yes, you had very bad head cold. You are clear now. Heart, blood pressure, temperature, oxygen level, lungs, eyes, ears, nose and throat, all normal.”

Immediately I felt better. He followed up with a prescription. When my children were small, one favorite Little Golden Book was “When I grow up, what will I be?” The nurse exclaims, “Here’s a little pill for you. This will make you good as new.”

That’s modern medicine for you. I don’t care. Three prescriptions plus the exam cost me 450 pesos or $23.70. I will take the pills. Not normal. I will rest, drink juices and teas all the long day. Normal.

I asked Leo to stop by my favorite panaderia for a chocolate croissant, my version of a lollipop for being a big girl at the doctor. Eight pesos. My other favorite treat is an ice-cream cone. It was a difficult choice.

Leo then went to a neighborhood tienda to pick up fruit to welcome John and Carol when they arrive tomorrow. Leo is thoughtful that way.

I needed a few items. I bought a large carton of yogurt, a round of Oaxaca cheese, a pineapple, rack of bananas, apples, a cantaloupe, a papaya, 3 cups raisins, 2 cups peanuts, a hefty stalk of broccoli, head of garlic, squash, carrots, a green pepper; this munificent bounty for the paltry sum of 219 pesos, or approximately 11-and-a-half dollars. Not normal. I bought more than I usually do. My eyes outflanked my stomach.

We stopped by Leo’s sister Amparo’s house so I could meet her brand new baby girl, not a week in our lives. Marifer is beautiful. She will break hearts just like her 3-year-old sister, Isabella, who calls me her Tia Lola. Who knows where she came up with that, but to Isabella, I am Aunt Lola. She came to me, lifted her foot for me to tie her shoelace. That small act made me feel better than any medicine.

The remainder of my day was normal. I rested. I drank teas. Neighbors stopped by to check on me. Are you OK? Do you need anything? Is there something I can do for you? Crin came to ask if I were up to a lounge by the pool. Bonnie chewed my ears off for not letting her know I had been sick. Josue came twice. Leo came and changed my water jug. A normal day.

P.S. Hurricane Willa must cross two mountain ranges to reach us. We get slop-over. Wind and rains but we are safe.

——

Sondra Ashton grew up in Harlem but spent most of her adult life out of state. She returned to see the Hi-Line with a perspective of delight. After several years back in Harlem, Ashton is seeking new experiences in Etzatlan, Mexico. Once a Montanan, always. Read Ashton’s essays and other work at montanatumbleweed.blogspot.com. Email [email protected].