The birds were so busy on January 28th, like they were trying to make it a regular day.

    For me it was the phone call that set time still.  It was mid-morning, January 28th, a Friday.  I was at the store picking foods out to make soup with for later.  It was just a week after payday and I was splurging.
   I had the day off from work.  The occasion was my annual MRI that was earlier that morning.  The MRI itself was a breeze, I really don't mind them at all and usually get a good nap in during their percussive purrs.  I'd only had one other "yearly MRI" before, the year before of course, about a year after my brain got fresh air in January 2009 and this turned into "normal".
   I was doing some math comparing dried mushrooms versus fresh, when my phone rang.  It was shocking, unreal when I read "KP MRI" on the screen.  I answered, using a goofy device that I use so I don't put my cell to my head.  A freindly and recognizable voice on the other end of the phone introduced herself, of course I knew who she was, darling Mariah, the nurse at my neurosurgeon's office.  After I responded by audibly swearing, rather than saying a usual "oh, how nice to hear from you!", she explained that Dr. Polin" had asked to see me as soon as possible...could I come by at 11:30?" *that gave me just an hour*, "they had a cancellation or you could come on Monday," she said to reassure me.  I gave my cart to a friendly employee and numbly explained that I wouldn't be able to buy the items.  They were cheerful about it and said they'd put things away for me and wished me the best of luck.
   A memory I have of that day is how busy the birds were in the parking lots that day.  As I walked out of the store into a sunny-ish January morning, the birds were so busy doing their birdly business, I really did think for a moment that they were trying to help me, to distract me from the air and pause that the phone call had given.

 

             

MRI from January 28th, 2011