Taking your best shot

Wisdom is not always associated with age. Today was a good example. Orllyene showed up at Dr. Kaleb Wartgow’s Smith Valley office as mad as a wet hen. I was the cause.

Our goal was a simple one — to get a Trulicity shot. They have figured out a way to inject insulin on a weekly basis, not only a daily basis. Orllyene contended that I am always telling her what to do and was in a fuss. We had come from Gardnerville to ask Emily, Dr. Wartgow’s nurse, to give Orllyene her insulin shot and now we were at a roadblock.

On this particular day, she didn’t know why she had to take six medicines as well as myriad vitamins and minerals.

Into this medical arena, Emily escorted Orllyene and me into the exam room, we took our seats and let events unfold. Emily broached the matter of the “Trulicity” injection; Orllyene balked. Orllyene clearly stood her ground. I selected a Sphinx like approach.

Here is where the wisdom part comes in. Emily is as warm as a puppy and knows the right thing to say things in these type situations. She didn’t impose her will on Orllyene and asked her if she was ready for her shot and when she didn’t answer, she said “Ron, Orllyene isn’t sure she wants to have her shot today” and let it go at that and segued into an amazing story about becoming a volunteer in the Yerington Fire Department.

“I went on a real fire the other day… I even had a chance to hold the hose. Would you like to see some pictures?” she exclaimed and pulled out her phone.

“The fire involved an eagle” and with unusual sensitivity asked if it was alright to show us the picture of the eagle, which we told her was okay. “We didn’t know what started the fire, then we found the eagle and a wire had executed the eagle and when it fell to the ground it started the fire, she said.

Of course, we recalled a story about a young girl we met in San Miguel Allende, Mexico who was the first “Bombara” (female firefighter) in Mexico and was given a three-day trip to Houston for training.”

We then asked what she was doing for Thanksgiving and she reiterated that she and her boyfriend were going to work the holiday so that the family people could have the holiday off; same with Christmas.

“Shall we do your shot, Orllyene?” Emalie asked, barely above a whisper. Afterwards she checked the medication list in detail to alleviate Orllyene’s obsession that she was taking so many “meds.” Emile told her some people take lots more medicines than she does and it’s because being healthy is the goal and she vowed to keep Orllyene alive until she reaches a hundred.

I was so happy to be out of the doghouse, I bought donuts from Kim’s Donuts and Tea House in Gardnerville for Dr. Wartgow’s staff and am going to drop by as soon as this is finished.

Next time I’ll try persuading, not dictating.

Ron Walker can be reached at walkover@gmx.com.