Sunday, July 25, 2010

What do I do with my car?

This evening I was reading a delightful blog having to do, more or less, with parking spaces, and thinking I haven't worried about where to park my car since I left NYC years ago. Then I realized I have a parking issue coming up next month.

I'm having an in-and-out minor surgical procedure done, and it's the in and the out that's presenting a problem. I have to be there at 6:00 a.m. I live an hour from the hospital, and no way will I ask someone to drive me in at that hour. Why I've been asked to come in so early is beyond me. I think the surgery is scheduled for 10:00. What do they plan to do with me for four hours? Maybe it's a clinical trial . . . maybe they want to find out how long it takes my back to start hurting on their new gurney. Maybe they want to see how low my blood sugar can go. Or maybe things are a little slow early in the morning, and I'm their entertainment.

Anyway, I'm arriving in my own car, and I'll park it at the hospital. But I can't leave it there. Nor can I leave under my own steam. The hospital won't discharge a surgical patient, even when it's minor surgery, without a designated driver. The driver has to show up in the flesh; you can't try to pull the old "My driver's waiting outside with the engine running" flim-flam.

So Lizzie will probably come and get me, and we'll go home in her car, and . . . well, you see my problem. I'm thinking this is one of those things that someone under 20 could solve in no time. Lizzie is 19. My current plan is to put it in her lap and forget about it for now. Maybe I'll start thinking about it next month. I didn't agree with everything Scarlett O'Hara did, but sometimes the girl made sense.

14 comments:

The Cookbook Junkie said...

I wonder if you could negotiate that arrival time. It seems ridiculously early. Then maybe you can arrange a ride to the procedure more easily.

The other option is have Lizzie bring a friend to drive your car home after the procedure.

The Cookbook Junkie said...

Or, maybe Lizzie can drive you home in your car and the friend could drive Lizzie's car (the friend would probably be more comfortable with that).

Susan said...

Thanks, CJ. I knew I'd get some help here!

crystal said...

Can you take a taxi to the hospital and then have Lizzie pick you up?

I used to work in a hospital surgery. While I was there, two of my aunts passed through for surgery :) I also had an operation onec, a nasal airway reconstruction, and I remember having to get there early too.

One reason you might have to come early is that surgery schedules are a little fluid - someone might get bumped. And the anesthesiologist will probably come to your hospital room to talk to you. Also you might be NPO - not able to eat or drink and this way they can make sure. Plus you might have to be pre-medicated.

Hope all goes well.

Susan said...

Hi Crystal - Ain't got no taxis out here in the boonies. I hope they won't want to pre-medicate me. I'm having propofol for the surgery, and I know I come out of that feeling 100%. Pre-meds could give me a hangover. Glad you came through your airway reconstruction okay.

crystal said...

It was long ago when I still worked at the hispital, the only thing I've had general anesthesia for. That recent operation on my face was just local.

No taxis! The mind boggles :)

Sabine said...

Are you able to teleport? It seems like the most obvious solution.

Susan said...

Yes, teleporting is very popular around here. I haven't actually seen it done, you understand, but several people (the ones who wear the same clothes every day and drink homemade whiskey) have mentioned that they enjoy it.

Indigo Bunting said...

I hope a solution quickly presents itself. And I hope it all goes well...

Dona said...

I hope it turns out OK. You can read http://susancoll.blogspot.com/ for fun in the meantime. She talks about parking too. And writes funny books. And lived in Bethesda.

Helen said...

So that means you have to get up at 4 a.m.? Yikes... Since you're barely going to get any sleep as is, I suggest getting a drive to whatever town the hospital is in the night before and either finding an all-night movie place or a bar that you feel really comfortable in. Then stay there until the sun comes up and stumble (or crawl, if you chose the bar) to the hospital. You'll be able to catch up on your sleep through the procedure.

And I hope all goes well. Take care!

Indigo Bunting said...

You know, Helen, that's a good idea.

crystal said...

Helen's idea is a good one :) And most hospitals are open 24 hours a day - you could go there and wait in the lobby too.

Susan said...

Oh, fine. They want to get me drunk and cheer me on as I crawl to the hospital. Well, I suppose this would minimize the need for anesthesia. But then I'd have to leave my car parked by the bar. Not the best spot, I wouldn't think. So far I'm going with Cookbook Junkie's idea. Lizzie has lots of friends.