That’s life – 8-6

After pulling a muscle in my neck and starting a prescription for muscle relaxants, I quickly gave up my car keys and headed for bed. My husband knew as soon as he picked up the medicine from the pharmacy that our day would soon be coming to an end, despite it being the morning, because I would soon be out like a light. Life becomes a little hazy when I take medications such as these, which is ironic because I am no waif. One would think it would take a lot to knock me out, but years ago I had surgery on my wrist and while the surgeon gave me a local, I was completely unconscious and have no recollection of the surgery at all. I do not even remember seeing the surgeon though I do have a scar.

Later, feeling better but not yet out of the woods, I took another dose before bed, with the lyrics from “Mother’s Little Helper” going round in my head. I read a little but at some point must have taken off my glasses because when I woke up, they were on my night table, although I have no clue how they got there. I don’t remember much of anything so I must have slept well, with the pain from my neck dulled as a result of the medication.

At work the next day and feeling well enough not to need another dose, a friend came into the office to update me in regard to a birthday celebration we were planning for a mutual friend. She had called someone else involved in the planning and shared my idea. It involved going fishing and then barbequing whatever we caught.

She continued with her update, sharing the feedback she had received about the potential fishing trip, and describing alternate ideas. There was only one problem, however, with the entire scenario: I had no recollection of speaking to her about this in the first place.

“Did we speak last night?” I asked her. “What!” she replied. I really did not remember speaking to her on the phone. I did not remember answering the phone either. But as she continued to talk and remind me of the conversation, I knew it sounded familiar, although I still did not remember actually having it. And while she looked at me with seeming disillusionment, I burst into laughter.

“I did not remember this conversation at all until you just brought it up!” I told her. “And had you not reminded me of it, I would not have recalled it on my own.” “I knew you were in a fog when we spoke,” she replied, but I guess she gave me more credit than I deserved. “You don’t even remember when you suggested we gut the fish ourselves and eat our catch?” I didn’t, I said, but I still thought it was a good idea. It seems that was the part of the birthday plan that first made my idea stink. The idea was vetoed by the rest of the group, none of whom are taking muscle relaxants and all of who are playing with a full deck.

It seems that forklifts, automobiles and jackhammers are not the only things I should not be operating when I take these meds. Apparently, I am incapable of operating a telephone as well.

MLW