Day 32: Oh! Darling(hurst)

I hopped on the train bright and early (11-ish), on my way to the city for my appointment with Dr. Flanagan. I spent last night reading up on eardrum ruptures and how sometimes they don't fully heal, causing equalization problems and hearing loss. Being overly optimistic wasn't a problem for me today. Still, I had my fingers crossed.

I stopped in Bondi to get a referral from Dr. Hirshowitz, who was apparently offended by my wanting a second opinion. After assuring me that I would get the same diagnosis from the new doctor, he sent me on my way, referral in hand and heavy of heart. The walk back to the train station in the rain didn't do much for my mood.

The doctor called me in to his office, and after introducing himself, asked me about why I was there. Toning the story down a bit, I explained how it all happened, and how I needed to be in shape to dive soon. Like Dr. Harry, he told me that there wasn't much to do but give the hole time to mend. But before I had time to get sad, he said that there's a chance it'll be healed and ready for diving in a few weeks. There are no words for how happy I was/am. Just so I knew what I was dealing with, he inserted a camera into my ear canal, and I received a tour via computer monitor. There, just beyond a small forest of ear hair, I saw my eardrum and the little hole that was causing me so much grief. Dr. Flanagan said that because of the size and shape of the hole, he knows it's healing well, and should continue to do so. He's much less of a drama queen than Dr. Harry. I have another appointment with him in three weeks, and if he gives me the O.K. to dive, I should be able to pick up where I left off in terms of my internship. And I'll be able to dive!

In my post-appointment joy, I forgot to look both ways while crossing the street, nearly getting myself struck by a taxi. At this point, paralysis sould have been the only thing to put a damper on my day. I spent the train ride back reading a newspaper someone else had left behind, which included an article on visions that Americans hold for the future. Apparently we believe that before 2050, cancer will be cured, Christ will return, and a Latino president will be elected. It's nice to know we have such highly valued opinions on these sorts of things.

Odd news stories aside, it was a quiet night. Spent some time at the gym and watched Up, which is undoubtedly the saddest animated movie I've ever seen. That being said, I didn't shed a single tear.

Yours in Masculinity Preservation,
Robert