Of Stones and Geese

Yesterday was an odd day. It started out with Nicole and I being the only ones up--the boys were still sleeping and J was taking a nap. We decided to watch a musical and since she had never seen "The Sound of Music" (yes, I know, shocking . . . . what kind of homeschooler am I, really???!), we put it on. I noticed my back hurt. It hurt more. It kept hurting more. Now I was having trouble concentrating on the movie. I got up and moved around. Began to pace. Then, WHAM. I knew what was happening. It was a kidney stone! How could I have possibly forgotten the hideous pain from last October? It was just like that and honestly, I wasn't sure if I was up to handling that again. I wasn't about to go to the hospital either since they tested me, said yes, it's a kidney stone, gave me pain meds and sent me home . . . . all for a MERE $5,000!

So I paced and got really nauseous and talked to J and called a couple of doctors . . and then the pain shifted from my back/side to my urethra/ureter and WHOO, a hot poker sensation where one should never, ever, ever go. I said, I bet this means it is moving from the kidney to the bladder . . . . so hang on, Tami. Breathe, walk, breathe and it will end soon.

It did. It took about 90 minutes from start to finish. By the time the doctors called back, I was asleep on the couch (it is an exhausting experience, believe me). Now, I'm back to fine and I didn't incur another medical expense. Win-win. But . . I'm done now. No more of those, ok? Thanks.

So, this has WHAT to do with geese, you ask? Well . . . nothing. I just happened to go out to the mailbox to put my outgoing mail in it and stopped to watch some geese flying by. I was inspired to actually write about it, so here it is. Today's poetry assignment. Let me know what you think of it.

A gap of robin's blue forces through

Separating white and gray twins

An overdue promise of warmer days.

Like a black bracket against the clouds

The geese streak overhead

Chattering as if sharing directions and

Laughing at the barefooted woman below

Watching their flight with chilly toes

And longing for spring's return.

Okay, it isn't Dickinson or Browning, but ain't bad!