My Face Was Red. Way Past Humiliation. Humiliation was not my goal. But it happened anyway. I remember it so clear. I had a handful of papers stuffed in the top of my purse. There was a current medlist, the last two sets of lab work. Oh, yes - several sheets that made up my food journal. The list of surgeries (I have the scars to prove them!) and some other papers the new doctor wanted. Diabetes mellitus is not my friend! Neither was where I parked outside the doctor's office. Note to self: never, ever park where you have to shove the car door against gravity. For one thing, it was heavy (that was a really steep slope). For another thing, so am I. UGGG! Not only was the parking lot not my friend, neither was the wind that particular day. Nope, not at all. I'm trying to get out of the car. I'm fighting against gravity and the wind. Just as I almost succeeded on the gravity part, a gust of wind snatched the neatly organized stack of papers out of my purse and tossed them around like very white, rectangle leaves at the mercy of a gusty autumn breeze. I am sure that I was the free show for those backed up at the red light right next to the fence. I dashed around as fast as I could trying to retrieve those blasted papers. It's as if the wind was teasing me - I'd bend over and grab for one and the wind snatched it away just to set it down just out of arm's reach. Step, slide, step, stoop, snatch, stand, seven, eight. Step, slide, step, stoop, snatch, stand, seven, eight. Step, slide, step, stoop, snatch, stand, seven, eight. Step, slide, step, stoop, snatch, stand, seven, eight. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat! Step, slide, step, stoop, snatch, stand, seven, eight - could have been a dance routine or an exercise routine. My face was getting redder and redder - not sure if it was from the dance routine or from the humiliation I felt as drivers were watching me step, slide, step, stoop, snatch, stand, seven, eight instead of watching the changing light. Those drivers waited for the grand finale, oblivious to the red-green-yellow-red-green-yellow-red-green-yellow light. They were not disappointed! Surely the fence next to the light would stop those run-away disasters. Not really. Nope - most of them sailed over the fence and at least a couple into the open windows of the cars. Before anybody could honk their horns, the fence speared one page. One, single page. Step, slide, step, stoop, snatch, stand, seven, eight - truth is, I didn't see him, but those in the cars did. Just as I was to the snatching part of my dance routine, a rather large, brown, of-very- questionable-lineage dog eyeballed that speared by the fence white leaf. He hiked his hind leg and with rifle sniper accuracy, got it. And my arm and hand. Even though I hollered, he didn't stop until he was finished. I tell you, it must have been the first time he went all day long. Cars honked. Light turned again. Folks laughed. I turned even redder and decided one soggy page with a big hole torn in it wasn't worth it. I saw a really nice, very familiar looking car drive in the parking lot and park right next to the door marked "PRIVATE ENTRANCE." Yes, I think I saw that car in line at the light. Nooo-noooo! Is that really the new doc laughing his head off as he reached down and picked up some litter, my litter, by that door? I noticed he already had one white "leaf" in his hand. Doc - 2. Patient - zero. But who's keeping score? When they took my blood pressure it was a little high. Well, way more than a little high. The doc came in with my file and greeted me. (More like ambushed me!) "Did you bring the papers I requested?" "I did." "May I have them?" "No, you may not." His poker face totally failed him as he burst out laughing. "I know. I saw it all go down. Here's the one that blew inside my car at the light. And here's the one I grabbed at my private entrance."
About the Author: "I was struggling with this request from this doctor that eating record for the diabetes education class, and this list of immunizations, and that list of all meds including OTC (over the counter) and this list of tests, and blah-blah-blah. Plain & simple. I created MY Log simply for myself!" says Linda L Culbreth, author Business Coach and Mentor who happens to be a diabetic with type 2 diabetes. "Then others saw it and wanted one. So, from my personal battle with my blood glucose levels comes an essential tool in your diabetes supplies."