Wide Eyed and Worried

Late this afternoon I had an eye exam. The Dr. dilated my pupils and gave me barely adequate disposable eyeglasses for the drive home. The office is six blocks from home and I made it okay, but was glad it wasn’t farther. I squinted, shaded my eyes, and was glad to get back indoors.

After dinner I took my evening bike ride. It’s humid and warm and cooler riding a bike than walking. My pupils were still dilated and I looked like Mr. Magoo.

A few miles from home I had an alarming thought. What if I fell, struck my head and became unconscious? Whoever happened by, would call 911. An ambulance would haul me off to the local ER, and they would find widely dilated pupils-- a sign of severe brain damage. Being unconscious I couldn’t tell them I just had an eye exam. Maybe someone working in the ER would recognize me (former co-workers). Word would get around the department it was curtains for this old nurse. Word would get around the department I wasn’t wearing a bike helmet. Tongues would wag. The old adage, “Those who don’t wear helmets don’t have anything to protect anyway” would come to minds. I’ve said that, but only about motorcyclists without helmets. My reputation would be ruined.

I cut my ride short.

Spiderman? Superman? No, the Other Caped Crusader

Last week I received the annual newsletter of the alumni of my School of Nursing. The diploma school is no longer educating nurses, but the alumni remain active. I haven’t been active, but am still on the mailing list.
The newsletter made an appeal for volunteers to be part of a group that does funeral honor guards for deceased alumnus. They attend funerals of former grads in full uniform. That uniform consists of white dress uniform, cap, white shoes and stockings and navy blue cape. I briefly considered paying my dues so I could have this honor when I died. I emailed friend/ classmate Barb who said she would pass, but if I wanted the honor guard she would show up in a cape for my funeral. Add that to the procession by goat cart to the cemetery, and the funeral will be quite an event.
When I was a student there in the 60’s the school owned navy wool capes that we wore for “special occasions” like Capping and Graduation. When we graduated we were offered the opportunity to buy our own capes. Only one or two of my classmates did. The rest of us wondered what on earth we would do with a cape. I guess I did not anticipate the funeral honor guard duty.
One of the years I was in school, a physician thought it would be nice if the student nurses solicited door to door for Red Cross donations wearing full uniform and cape. We were thrilled. That getup was a 1940’s fashion statement. We wouldn’t have minded so much if he had added a Lone Ranger type mask so no one recognized us.
Three years ago we were in Rome and I saw nurses in full regalia on the streets: White uniforms, caps, and navy wool red-lined capes! My biggest regret---I didn’t take a picture. The concierge at our hotel told us they were religious “sisters” who were nurses. What a step back in time. Secular nurses dress in scrubs like their American counterparts.
I am frequently asked to go door to door collecting for charities like the American Heart Association, Leukemia Foundation, Kidney Fund etc. If I had my own cape I might get a better response. I would be a unique Caped Crusader.