Rain and Relief

It's raining, finally. 

The pollen has been thick over everything, and our gardens are getting dry. We have not had rain in all of April so far. So much for April showers.

But today, on Earth Day, we are getting a cleansing, moisturizing, welcome rain. We will appreciate the rain.

 The new leaves on the Lady's Mantle hold rain like jewels as the pollen puddles in the middle. 

 The tulips were going over too fast, Now they will last longer. 

The rain has just begun. Now I will appreciate from inside.

I am feeling relieved today not just because of the rain. Yesterday I had my latest echo cardiogram. I have been dreading it ever since the last one, six months ago, because that one was so painful and the bruising from the probe lasted most of those six months. I didn't know how I could stand another. I emailed my cardiologist about a month ago, asking if there was some other test I could have for aortic valve stenosis, but there isn't. I told her why I was dreading another echo and she said she would put a note on the referral. 

I don't know if that did the trick, but something was different. The technician was none too friendly as we got started. I asked for, and got, a pillow to put between my knees to help with my sciatica, which I explained to her as a reason why I might need to move during the 40 minute procedure. I mentioned how much the last one hurt and that I would try to be a good patient, but there were no guarantees this time. She told me she was the one who had done the last echo, and she always did them the same way. But something was different. I didn't argue. I was just quietly relieved as she proceeded without putting undue pressure on the probe, didn't really even hit the sore spots she had dug into last time, and I was comfortable throughout the whole procedure. As she finished up, she quietly said "You did it." 

Yes, I did. So did she. I thanked her.

I have to wait well into next month to get the results. I will try to get a phone appointment instead of the in person one I have scheduled. Precautions were taken. We were met in the parking garage, still in the car, had our temperatures read and were given masks. We used supplied hand sanitizers. There we no other patients in out waiting area. We felt safe. But staying home is safer. 

I hope you are at a time and place where you can appreciate the beauty of our Earth on this 50th Earth Day. I know that Earth is relieved that we are polluting her less these days.