The Girl at the Crossing

Standing waiting to cross the road, she lifted up her shirt, looked down and peered at her infusion set. The lights changed. She put her shirt back down and carried on her way.

The girl wasn't me.

I've been overwhelmed in the last couple of weeks. Being in plaster and having to wait for surgery, knowing that it will be at least another six weeks in plaster after surgery and just wishing I could get it done sooner, to end this thing sooner.

I still have to get up and go to work. I'm self employed, so if I don't work, I don't make any money. And the bills won't pay themselves. I have to hop on and off the bus and hope the drivers don't pull away sharply before I'm safely seated.

While my friends and family are great, they can't be with me 24/7. I don't have a partner, and I live alone. (And, in fact, most of my close family have chosen this very week to be on holidays in far flung places.)

I ran out of milk today, and there was no one else to get some for me. Picture this: girl on crutches with two pints of milk swinging from  the little finger of her right hand, and a box of fabric conditioner pearls tucked under her chin. I swear the guy on the till sniggered, but no one offered to help!

There was no one to take out the rubbish today, and I didn't want it sitting in the kitchen overnight. The laundry still needed doing. The bathroon needed to be cleaned.

But seeing that girl, standing by the roadside checking out her infusion set reminded me that, at least as far as diabetes goes, dealing with the crazy effects all of this is having on my blood sugar, I'm not alone.

It is just a matter of typing the words.

Comments

I don't have a pump myself, but I was absolutely delighted when I saw a waitress wearing one (clipped on the back of her apron) at an Applebee's restaurant in Nebraska, of all places. In New York City (where I live) they have a wonderful add campaign on the subway (er...underground) for the American Diabetes Assoc. that depicts 10 silhouettes of straphangers, 9 in black and 1 in red. The caption reads: 1 in 10 have diabetes. Though I know the campaign (and the statistic) are talking about type 2, I still look around my subway car and wonder...if I'm not the only one.

[Johnboy]

Oh Caro, I think I missed a post :(

I'm so sorry to hear about your achilles tendon. For what it's worth, I would help you with your groceries if I could!

I do hope your help comes back from vacation soon.

[Scott K. Johnson]

Maybe Johnboy & I need to schedule a vacation! We could cart you around and you could give us a guided tour!

Hoping for a speedy recovery!