To summarize: For two years, I have been regularly seeing a hematologist at a prominent cancer center because of my doctor's concern about my hemoglobin level being in a steady decline. It had gone into anemia range and kept falling. It could be just an old age thing -- but what if it kept falling and falling?
Every six months, the specialist's nurses would draw my blood and the hemoglobin would be down a bit more -- not a lot, but down each time. It was a trend, and not a good one. If this kept up, the doctors said I probably would have to have a bone marrow test -- no fun.
Well, today, in yet another visit to the cancer center during the middle of Christmas season, I was apprehensive. The scales were not kind -- too much holiday eating. The nurse's blood draw was super-efficient. It could not have taken more than 30 seconds. So then I waited in the exam room to hear the news.
So that's why I was extra-enthusiastic when slipping on Superdawg's leash for a good walk.
The crisp air and the sunny sky would have been enough, but as a bonus I saw a small bird on the pond that kept going under water and then resurfacing eight or 10 feet farther away.
I don't pretend to know which kind of diving duck I spotted, but it was fascinating to watch. Maybe I will dub the guy the Southern Pochard until I take its photo and do more research. There is always some reward to be found in Nature if you keep your eyes peeled. And it helps to be in a good frame of mind, too.
© Robert G. Holland 2013
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