I thought I’d made up my mind to remain single for the rest of my life.
After all, I live a fulfilling and jam packed life. I set my own schedule. I do what I want to do. For the most part, I live exactly the way I want to.
And then last week, while I was swimming laps in the morning, I saw a tall, lithe woman rise out of a chaise lounge and saunter over to the pool in her leopard print bikini.
Most of my swim mates are senior citizens. I am accustomed to being one of the youngest and fittest swimmers in the pool.
But wow. This woman was stunning.
Perhaps I’m not dead yet after all.
Flash forward to two days ago when I was in pre-op for my surgery. I think I fell in love with my nurse anesthetist. She was was young-ish (definitely not middle aged yet), tall and slender. Even wearing a mask, I could see her big smile through her eyes. She was smart, competent and friendly. And tall.
I’m pretty sure she started me on Versed as she wheeled my bed down to the operating room, because I remember thinking, “I should ask her for her phone number” but not being able to get the words out and then thinking quite calmly as they strapped my arms down in a crucifix position “I don’t remember this happening the last time.”
When I woke up after surgery, I felt quite content and loving towards my post-op nurse, the wheelchair runner and my friend drove me home.
I attribute 25% of that to my general goodwill and love toward humanity and 75% to good drugs.
While laying around in pre-op, prior to receiving any drugs, I did think that this might be a good place to work. Everyone was helping each other. They moved efficiently, but not frantically. They showed genuine care and compassion to me and the other patients and each other.
I noticed it was full of women. I saw at least 25 women working there (nurses, surgeons, anesthetists, aides) and only 3 men (my surgeon, an intern and the security guard).
As I get back into my normal life, I’m sure I’ll settle down into my hermit like existence once again.
But it was nice to be exposed to an enthusiastic team of people and feel the energy and social cohesiveness that I haven’t had for several years.
Who knows – maybe I’ll be motivated to work or volunteer somewhere to be part of a team once again. Or maybe I’ll start looking to date again.
Time will tell.