LIFE WITH FLO: The Series: Part 18

By Karen Waters

LIFE WITH FLO: The Series

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June 7, 2004 - Part 18

Sundays are sometimes my hardest days. Trying to explain this to Flo was even harder. Her question, of course, was "Why?". My response, of course, was "Isolation". "What's isolation?", she asked. So, I told her what all of you already know, "Isolation is a condition that occurs when you don't live near family and everyone else who doesn't have PH is out and about, working and playing with others, having a really good time interacting with one another, while we who have PH are home alone because we are either too sick and puny to go anywhere or, if we DO feel well enough, by the time we pack up all our supplies for Flo, plus our oxygen tanks, for an excursion into the world it's so late it's already time to go to bed." That about sums it up, don't you think? Well, Flo had to think a very long time before she could think of a way to relate. Finally she suggested, "Do you think Isolation feels a little like when you put me in the butter compartment to keep me safe, but it ends up that all I get to do is look out and see that I'm separated from all the other Refrigerator Residents?" I could see she was finally "getting" it. So, I ask you, just what IS the solution to Isolation? Very simple. I'm moving Flo out of the butter compartment.

Every Sunday afternoon Flo and I reminisce about the past week. We had a lot to talk about this week. Monday was a holiday, making it another "Isolation" day. Tuesday we went to bed with theImitation Flu we caught from Nanogram #12. Wednesday was a visit to the attorney.Flo was baffled by the foreign language spoken there. I told her it was a language called "Legalese", and that people learn it in lawschool, and how nobody other than lawyers are supposed to understand it, butthat nobody really knows for sure if they actually do. Thursday morning we went to court. More foreign language. We left with an Annulment,which bewildered Flo even more, so I told her it was just another word for "Isolation", or "Freedom", dependingon how you looked at it. Thursday afternoon we made a visit to the E.R. Thiswas Flo's first E.R. experience. It was also the E.R.'s first experience with Flo. They eyed one another for a very long time beforethey decided to become friends. Oh! Before I forget to tell you, I was therebecause my heart rate went up to the 180s for about 25 minutes. Of course, it's just like taking your car into the shop......you know.....thefunny noise stops as soon as you get there. Well, my heart stopped racing atthe E.R.'s front desk. Silly me, I went in anyway. The nice young doctor took a long time to assess our condition. Before he sentus home with a Holter Monitor he explained to me, with great concern in hiseyes, "You are a very sick woman". He couldn't hear Flo when she whispered in my ear, "NOKIDDING!!". So we went home with our brand new Annulment and our new Holter Monitor. Naturally Friday wastotally dedicated to PROJECT DETANGLEMENT. Adding 8 new cords to the presento2 tubing and Flo's line was not a pretty picture, but Flo kept bragging to everyonehow "WE HAVE CONNECTIONS". We also worked as hard as possible to make my heartrace again so the Holter Monitor could capture a BIG CARDIAC EVENT. In all myexperience with Holter Monitors, I haven't met one yet that could catch a heartdoing such a thing. The heart is very clever, and waits patiently for the 24hours to expire before performing another BIG CARDIAC EVENT. It probably doesn'tmatter anyway. I think the BIG CARDIAC EVENT was simply a form of Post AnnulmentAnxiety Disorder anyway. Finally, Saturday arrived, and Flo and I spent mostof the day watching D-Day stuff on TV. We agreed that Tom Sellick looked prettygood as Eisenhower. But then, Tom Sellick would look pretty good as just aboutanybody, don't you think?

A week ago Wednesday I sold the house. Yep. Just like that! This week we should have the actual purchase offer in hand. Flo and I have decided it's time to make a new life for ourselves. So we are making plans to move to Vermont. You see, there are at least two advantages to Vermont. First, we have family there, which is irrelevant to Flo, since she is a clone, but it IS important to ME since, insofar as I know, I am NOT a clone. Secondly, the altitude is 100 feet above sea level, unless of course, you decide to take a dip in Lake Champlain, then it could be zero. Now this DOES mean something to Flo because she has heard a rumor that if we live in a lower altitude she won't have to work nearly as hard to keep me well as she does here at 4800 feet. The rumor is probably true. So, if all goes well, the moving date should occur in mid-August, giving Flo just enough time to achieve Therapeutic Dose. Once there, the altitude problem will be forever solved. More importantly, because family is there, we will finally be eliminating Isolation.

LIFE WITH FLO: The Series

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