[EJ711]

Hi Friends,

Most of you who know me even just a little know how I hate living in rural Kansas. Mind you when I look out any of my windows, I only see cattle and horses -- no houses. There are rolling hills, one third of our property is wooded, and we have two ponds nestled side-by-side, but I long to be somewhere where I can see other people.

On top of everything else, the people in our small town of approximately 3,000 are WAY too interested in my business and everybody else's for my liking.

Anyway yesterday I was rudely awakened by both my landline and cellphone ringing in succession before 9:00 a.m.

On Wednesday, July 4th, I had hiked maybe two miles around a mall up in civilization in my post-op boot from broken ankle, so husband could get some much needed new eyeglasses.

So anyway I was tired Thursday morning. After I struggled to an upright position, and strapped on my orthopedic boot, and made it to the phone, the Caller ID said it was the bank that called. I called them back, and the woman was telling me they couldn't find the check my husband and I had left in the night depository on the 4th.

Anyway I had another issue I needed to discuss with her, so while we were discussing that, they found our $300 check. One problem solved.

After trying to work for about an hour after that, I finally decided I needed to go back to bed, which I did. Husband woke me at lunch time, which I was counting on.

I got up did my first load of laundry since breaking my ankle in mid-May, and then managed to get in and out of the shower without inflicting further bodily harm to myself.

So now it is around 2:30 p.m., and my ride to the hospital was not due for another half hour.

I managed to comb out my hair, and get some clothes on.

The woman I had hired to drive me to the hospital for physical therapy is a German Baptist. German Baptists wear caps like the Amish, but their simple dresses are made with patterned fabric. Anyway I had hoped this lady had a little more discretion than just another person from town.

Well, no, I was wrong!!

I wasn't even in her car yet, when she started to blurt out how she had been at the Library in town, and had been talking about me.

I made sure I had my seatbelt on before she took off. Good thing!

She tore off down our country road. She did a fairly good job of stopping at the stop sign, before barrelling onto the major route into town. However, I thought it was all over, when we neared the round-about, and she started proclamating about how stupid round-abouts were, and instead of slowing down, she accelerated onto the round-about with two 12-wheelers coming towards us.

Anyway, no surprise when we got to the hospital we were early.

Oh I forgot, as we were speeding down my country road she was telling me all the things she had told one of the librarians at the Library about me. When I could get a word in edge-wise I said to her, if you are going to be broadcasting my business, at least you could get it right. When she came to clean a couple of weeks back, I had told her that I didn't want her discussing me with anyone in town.

My physical therapist was very young, and accused me of waiting too long to come in. I had to wait to come in, because they did not have an evaluator available. I took the first available appointment!

Then she spoke down to me about making sure I touched base with the pharmacist soon so they could order an ankle brace for me. I am a retired executive, who planned and successfully completed complex projects -- I think I can manage getting an ankle brace when I need it -- even though I am "handicapped" by living in a backwater town.

Feedback welcome -- just be gentle -- since I seem to be a little sensitive at the moment.

EJ

[(JD)]

((((hugs)))) Well, since the town does seem a bit...slow or backwards (sorry I can't think of the nice term for being that way right now) maybe you DO need to check on the pharmacist? Maybe it takes him/her a while to get an order in from that particular company (like they wait for a few needs?????)

TC!

[sabby]

((((((((((((((((((((((( EJ )))))))))))))))))))))))

Sounds like a harrowing day for you. I'm so glad you made it home safe and sound. Bet you won't be hiring that driver back again eh?

Also sounds like to me that people have nothing better to do than perseverate on others lives since theirs are obviously so mundane. *sigh* That is definitely small town for ya. Then again, I know a lot of people who talk trash in big towns too....so it's more likely just human nature.

Sure am glad you got the check issue straightened out. What a kick in the pants that would have been if they lost your check...geesh!

As far as the "young" therapist goes, maybe you can open her eyes a bit about having at least a tolerable bedside manner?? LOL Too bad they don't teach compassion to these folks as well as their practicle education.

Sorry you had such a rough day. Now you are safely home, relax a bit...put that ankle up, have a cup of tea and breathe! Hope you feel comfy soon!

xoxoxo
Jean

Oh... Lordy... I am thinking that you are talking about my small home town that I grew up in.. only Amish... with the horses and buggies.. and not in your state... I guess the only thing a person can do besides going GRRRRRRRRRRRRR.. is LOL... my sympthay on such a bad small town day...

[Rose3]

Hi EJ
your description of the round about experience frightened me!

find another driver.

what a day for you!

at least the bank found your check

Rose3

[EJ711]

Sky,

Don't be mean.

I've got it covered. I'm going to the biggest closest town -- 30 miles away -- tomorrow. They have a Walgreen and a Walmart there.

EJ

[EJ711]

Sabau and Rose,

Yes, the driver has been fired.

Sabau,

You are absolutely right -- the physical therapists bedside manner was off!!! Way off!!!!!

EJ

[Cheri]

Sorry you had such a rough day. Please don't be mad if I tell you it was fun to read about (interesting).

[EJ711]

Cheri,

Thanks for your feedback. I was hoping to entertain at the same time I benefited from venting.

Hugs,

EJ

[bebop]

sounds scarey to say the least! hopefully nothing like that happens to me around here lol our little town only has 1200 hehehe. no traffic lights or round abouts lol. hon I am glad you are getting around better and the foot is on the mend!

Good Lord, thats alot to swallow on one day. Glad to hear you preservered.

[Christina86]

((((((((EJ))))))))))))

[January]

((((((( EJ )))))))))

I'm so sorry you've had such a horrible time.

You need a script from your Dr. to take to an Orthopedic Company where a certified orthodist can give you the brace you need. Drug store aren't trained to know what you need.

Hugs,

Jan

PS. What is a "round about"?

[EJ711]

Friends,

Since the Library is my absolute favorite place in town here, and I love all of the ladies who work there, I decided I needed to call the lady, Sharon, who my former driver said she blabbed to. Two of the things she said she told her were seriously wrong, and damaging to my reputation.

So I called Sharon at the Library on Friday. My ex-driver had said she didn't think Sharon would remember what she told her. Well it turns out she was correct about this. Sharon hadn't even remembered I had broken my ankle. She was also sweet enough to say, "Don't worry your secrets are safe with us."

Most of you also know how I hate physical therapy. I went through a month of it last year, with no lasting positive effects. There was a big billing brew-ha-ha, which was the hospital's fault, and which is still not totally settled. Also because of the smalltown setting, I always feel like I'm being scrutinized, because everybody knows I'm not from here. I kind of feel like I'm under a microscope, or being studied by aliens.

The receptionist in this Physical Therapy section, Brenda, lives out here somewhere near me. I was having a pretty good time on my first visit, which was an evaluation by a gentleman, who had a good sense of humor, and I got to say, "Hi!" to the lady who did my therapy last year. I told her I had horses now too, to which Brenda said in this unfriendly town, "I know!"

It made me feel like even out here in the middle of nowhere, where I can only see cattle -- no houses, even out here I'm being watched.

Well anyway there was a major accident just north of town yesterday, and the main road was completely blocked. So my husband and I decided to turn around and go north, until we could hit a road, which would cut over to the other main two-lane highway that leads into town.

Well as fate would have it, the low gas signal started to sound, and we had to got further north, before cutting over, so we could get to a gas station. Well I'm sitting in the truck waiting for husband to pay inside, and who pulls in, but Brenda!

Of course when she spotted me, I waved, and she waved back. Calgon, take me away from here. I just want to live somewhere, where I can be anonymous for a few days.

At least the frogs don't rat me out about anything real or imagined.

I'm looking forward to our Canadian cold front, which is supposed to be here tomorrow.

That's all from the prairie for now...

EJ

[January]

(((((((( EJ )))))))))

As someone who was raised in the country, I'm sure everyone in the entire community realizes that Sharon doesn't know her head from a hole in the ground.

Just hold your head high, smile at everyone and keep on walking.

Hugs,

Jan