"Um, I really just called to chat..."

April 16, 2010

It was Friday and kind of a big day.  Not necessarily a good kind of big day, but still a big day.  It was my partner, Mandy's last day in District 1.  I felt horrible because I had not been able to work with her during her last week.  We had so much fun together!  And we got in plenty of weird situations together.  One of our funniest and consistent runs was this pair of sisters who always played their music incredibly loud.  We were called there so many times I stopped counting.  The sisters got to know us so well that they gave us nicknames.  Mine was "Misery", as in Kathy Bates' Misery character.  Mandy, of course, was Jessica Alba.  The sisters constantly invited us into their apartment....in kind of an odd way.  Jess and Misery always turned them down. 

We also had TruTV riding with us for several weeks because we were one of the few that tested those Axon Cameras you wear on your head to get our point of view of what we do.  So, not only did they film us when we were on a run, but they recorded us the entire time we were in the car.  They got a lot of stuff for the blooper reel...an impromptu medley of the "Grease" soundtrack and a lively discussion that involved me yelling at Mandy to "Please try my iced tea!  I think it tastes weird!".  I finally wore her down and she gave in, only to tell me it tasted fine....Could that have been another clue???

Anyway, back to Friday night....I called Mandy just to talk a bit.  I knew she would be sad to be leaving District 1.  She asked me about my appointment and when my MRI was going to be.  When I told her Tuesday, she FLIPPED out!  "No! Tuesday is too long to wait."  "You are starting to slur your words!"  And finally, "I'm taking you to the hospital!"

When I could finally get a word in, I said, "Um, Mandy.  I really just called to chat."  Then I did it.  I asked her, "What if I don't come out of my house?".  Her response?  "Then I will sit outside with the lights and sirens on until someone complains."  Really?  Really....What choice did I have?

As I was getting ready and stumbling around my house, I did realize that I was dizzy constantly, as opposed to the little breaks in dizziness I had the day before.  And if I was slurring my words, I guess she was right.  But that didn't mean that I wasn't going to at least make her turn the lights on.