Still Alive
I’ve had to take a few tests in my time, I mean, I made it through public school and high school and got a diploma of some sort from college.
And outside of school I’ve had to take various tests in order to be allowed to do different things in life, drive, save someone from a stabbing wound caused by a shard of glass using nothing but my wits, a dixie cup, electrical tape, a box of wine and a 911 call (this one has never been put to the test in real life and I may be a bit hazy on some of the details now), make espresso and americanos, serve alcohol responsibly (that means in a glass I think), and make a marine radio call.
I always wanted to be a superhero
As a youngster I often wanted to be a superhero, to save my friends from imagined tragedies, to have my peers respect and admire me. That might be one of the reasons I continue to acquire abilities.
I used to carry needle and thread with me when I was a teenager, not to be able to sew up a torn garment, but because I was certain that one day someone would be injured and the only way for them to survive was that I would stitch them up and save their life. Fortunately for all my friends no tragedies occurred with quite those requirements and their lives were likely saved because of that.
I’ve taken other tests
I had an angiogram that indicated that I have coronary arterial blockage and that I needed stents installed. It also revealed that I had managed to have a couple of heart attacks without knowing I’d done that. I’d say that was a win. I mean, if you have to have heart attacks it’s better to survive them with a minimum of drama, right?
I’ve had many blood tests, I usually pass, clever of me I feel since I’m not given any material to study for them.
I spent some time learning to be an auctioneer once four decades ago, and was tested on those skills before being given a diploma and a license. And I can still do that when called on.
It’s not all tests though
I do other things with my life. The jobs I’ve held are a list of unconnected things that sound more like a dictionary of occupations down through the ages. The things I’ve been paid to do go from farming tasks through health care jobs, office work to technology, printing, contracting, and even computer programming. I know I’ve missed a few, I always do.
But this weekend past we opted to take yet another test. We had been to a conference the week before and some folks there ended up getting sick. Around Wednesday during the week we both started feeling unwell. Tests were booked because for two different reasons we are both, here in this household, eligible for testing.
We took the test on Friday
We await the results. But whether we’re COVID positive or not, we are sick. We’ve shut ourselves off from the world. And we have no intention of sharing this malady with anyone else.
But sick or not, COVID or not, I am carrying on. There are words to be written, words like these ones I have written here.
And there are likely more tests for me to take. Writing is communicating experiences, real or imaginary. And experiences are easier to write about if you’ve had more of them to draw on.
And you can test me on that.
