Something's Missing

When you’re dealing with recurring medical issues you get used to missing things, for example, vacations and parties. (Hopefully, we haven’t missed any opportunities. Opportunities for what I’m not sure, but I just hope we haven’t missed them.)

For Renee, rather recently, something has been missing. It has only been a few days but the noticeable absence of something that has been so prevalent in her life has got her feeling some separation anxiety. Where did it go? Why has it left? It has hung around for years like an adult child that just won’t leave the house and then one day you wake up and the familiar voice is gone, shhhhh – quiet. Is this an empty feeling inside or elation? Is it for real? Will there be a mid-morning return, “Jeez, I just went for a walk. What’s for lunch?” or is it gone for good? I’m talking about Renee’s parasitic friend, pain.

Required listening
Andy Williams – Can’t Get Used To Losing You
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hUeaqHHq2II

Renee said yesterday that the pain she’s been carrying around in her mid-section, like a baby on the hip, just disappeared. Do we issue an Amber Alert, print up some new milk containers? Do we celebrate and throw something similar to a mortgage burning party? Is this another one of those false positives?

We’re still scheduled for our trip to Cleveland on Friday. Renee asked if the trip is worth it now that the pain is gone. My medical training in this regard is pretty rusty. I am up on all the current Renee trends of excruciating behavior. It has been a long while since I’ve had to deal with a pain free Renee. I’m just a general blog-titionor and not a specialist in this area. I’m going to have to defer to the surgeon on this one, so we’re going north.

With Renee, you never know if the skies are clearing or if you’re in the eye of the storm, but I do know that we’ve fed, clothed and housed her little friend for too long now. It is time for the pain to move on and wither away like last Autumn’s leaves. It is time for Renee to embrace this new empty-nester lifestyle and break free of the cocoon that has enveloped her. It is time for the Monarch to emerge and take flight, fluttering again in the wild, windy, open pastures, not just on the rebound but once again unbound.

It is time for Renee to get used to missing the pain.