Compos Mentis

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Compos Mentis

Cross your fingers we used to say
as kids, when we heard the siren
saw an ambulance racing somewhere
blow your nose we said and hope
(because it rhymed) you never go
In one of those


Except of course, unless you’re dying
and that’s a good enough reason
perhaps to dial 111 although nice
if someone else can do it for you
because it’s tricky assessing life
and death when you’re worried
about inconveniencing everyone


So, we were super impressed with
the 20 something driver who backed
down our driveway (you have to see
the tricky bend at the top to get this)
right almost to our front door
and oh golly, I wonder what the
neighbours were thinking 



the teenager (well he looked that
age) with dreadlocks, head paramedic
entered our shoeless house in his boots
(it wasn’t a good time to announce our
house rules)
followed by a bright-faced young woman
who as it turned out was a trainee 
and full of smiles - they all were


lots of explanations, questions, kindness
and nek minnit  I’m in the back of the
ambulance (no chance to cross my fingers
or even blow my nose) and the trainee
girl full of smiles is putting in her very
first canula OUCH  but hey, there’s a
first time for everything me in the ambo
and her with the canula
hubby hot on our tail in his car


Would you like some fentanyl? I was surprised
such a nice offer and in shock I declined
worried that I might be out to it before we
arrived at the hospital and I wanted to be
compos mentis (you know, so I could explain
to the doctors just how I was feeling) and now
on reflection I wish I’d said, yes thank you



Anyway, it wasn’t life threatening even if
It had felt like it at the time with a heart rate
out of control, chest pressure and woozy woozy
Like I was dying I told my GP a week or so
later … when she explained I’d had a bad
reaction to the antibiotics she’d prescribed


And Hutt Hospital has to be nicest
place (via the back door) if you think you
might be dying

8 thoughts on “Compos Mentis”

  1. christinenz90's avatar christinenz90

    I enjoyed that, the dreads, the boots, your driveway. Glad you were okay in the end. A few years ago I had occasion to call an ambulance as I was in excruciating pain. I was offered fentanyl, it was shot up my nose. Instant pain relief, it was magic. Lasted 20 minutes enough to get me to hospital where they gave me another blast up the nose.

    Like

  2. christinenz90's avatar christinenz90

    I enjoyed that, the dreads, the boots, your driveway. Glad you were okay in the end. A few years ago I had occasion to call an ambulance as I was in excruciating pain. I was offered fentanyl, it was shot up my nose. Instant pain relief, it was magic. Lasted 20 minutes enough to get me to hospital where they gave me another blast up the nose.

    Liked by 1 person

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