The weather has finally warmed, the wind has finally subsided to a point where you actually want to be outside for more than five minutes. It is full speed ahead with the garden, trying to make up for, like, three lost weeks.
Then, it hits. At first you think, oh, the pollen is so high this year, must be irritating my throat. It’s been years since I had more than a cold. But when the discreet cough turns fully hacking, the jig’s up. A week after the raving sore throat, exhausted from the wracking cough, off to the doctor. On a day where I could have easily spent six hours in the garden had I been WELL. Oh well.
This is a new doctor for me; I just had my initial visit back in April. She was recommended by two people I know. I would love to sit down with her and hear her story sometime, because clearly she has made a choice to be a small-town country doctor.
She has two Pugs, cream (or fawn, not sure the nomenclature) and black. Adorable names that I won’t give out of respect because I haven’t asked. They ramble about the office. For some, anathema. For others, like me, totally freaking great.
The friendly nurse brought me to a room, asked me the questions then left me to wait. I was just pulling out my phone to check those interminable messages, when the door, which hadn’t been shut tight, swung open. I guiltily dropped the phone in my bag as I expected to see the doctor (no cell phone zone). Nope not the doc, but black Pug, followed by cream Pug. They came up to me, soulfully engaged with their eyes then sat at my feet very peacefully. We communed for about five minutes. Then they heard Mom’s voice and trotted out.
They were bred as companions for the Chinese aristocracy, my doctor told me when I described what had happened. They never had a job but to be with people, and that’s what they seem to do here. Like therapy dogs, I said; but with no training, she responded.
Diagnosis, bronchitis.
Totally sucks in June when I should be in the garden, and elsewhere, full tilt. But could have been a lot worse. And my moments with the Pugs, well, kind of helped ease the pain.