HEART MONITORS and
TRANSITIONING
The
itching located on my right abdomen just beneath my bra was driving me crazy.
That was almost overshadowed by the burning pain on my right collar bone. Only twenty-three
minutes into a 24 hour torture of wearing a portable heart-monitor and the
leads to device were making me a basket case.
GET THESE THINGS OFF ME NOW!
Mind
you, it wasn’t the actual monitor, or even that the doctors were still trying
to find my heart that I kept telling them the California State Bar required I
leave by the door in order to get my Bar Card to practice law, it was my dire
allergy to the adhesives used to connect the monitor to my body.
AAARRRGG! Twenty-three
hours and thirty-seven minutes to go. . .
Scratch,
scratch, scratch, tap, tap, tap, don’t disturb the leads Mary Jo.
How
was it that I found myself now in a position of going from one doctor to
another as they tested me and prodded me to find out why I was so tired and why
my heart was doing rapid salsa dancing in my chest?
Come
on, really?
For
those of you have ever had to stand in front of a crowd and give a speech, only
to feel the floor drop out from beneath you. Or let’s say you have just seen a
horrible accident and wondered how you could help, only to be tortured by
dreams for days. Or, a favorite friend or loved one finds themselves in
desperate trouble and turns to you for help with the burden of finding a way to
help them on your shoulders, that, my friend is what being a practicing
criminal defense trial attorney is like on daily basis.
Now,
after more than twenty-eight years in the courtroom, my body is finally giving
out, and no longer willing to take the stress, never mind the steady diet of
adrenaline, caffeine, sugar, and fats.
But,
I try not to despair, as I transition to a better life and lifestyle. I am
trying yoga—does my body really bend that way? Donuts, caffeinated coffee, diet
soda, and red meats are no longer my friends and comfort. But, I do
have kale, broccoli, fresh green beans, and I am becoming extremely
fond of Sabra Hummus.
And,
the brightest light of all as I transition to a new life is that I get to spend
time with my beloved dogs—Fina and Scruggs; my cats—Samantha and Boo Bear; and
of course my dear husband Prince Charming. I also get to spend more time with
my favorite fictional characters of my books—Detective Jake Swanson, Melissa
Sanchez, and new ones Kelly Landrieu, Prax Desmett, and Jason Carson.
Hmm,
so as I itch, scratch, tap and try to be patient, I decide that maybe this
transition won’t be so bad—once this damnable heart monitor is removed!