We were having dinner in our dining room, just the two of us, Mildred and I. Nothing out of the ordinary was happening. Mildred simply enjoyed setting a nice table, an attractive table. She used our silver and crystal almost every night, never forgetting to put a book of matches near my left hand so I could light the tall many different colored candles she collected. No matter what the day had brought, happiness, anger, frustration her gentle smile made the sun shine during dinner.
Last night, she laid down her fork, shook her head and looked at me quizzically. ‘What did you say, Dear? I didn’t hear you.’ ‘Nothing unusual, Mil. All I said was ‘I love you.’ She kissed her palm and blew the kiss to me. I felt it touch my lips. I licked them, tasted the honey and then tasted Mil’s always delicious vegetable soup. Simple, plain continuous joy filled my soul. The travails of my work day disappeared. I reveled in our time together, knew sweet blueberry pie was warming in the oven and my belly was ready for it as was the rest of me prepared for our ecstasy to follow.
Sunday evening the table was set with our ordinary china and stainless flatware. Low, inexpensive candle holders lit the flowers she picked from our garden. Whatever Mil did, she did with panache. We were both comfortable. Salmon cakes, baked potatoes, string beans and a perfect touch, home made bread, was more than good enough for me. It was perfect. ‘Mil, may I have another salmon cake,’ I asked. She looked up from her plate and asked, ‘What did you say, Dear? I didn’t hear you.’ ‘ I asked for another salmon cake. You didn’t give me a chance to say I love you. I’m saying it now, good and loud, ‘I love you!’
After dinner I helped clear the few things off the table, left the flowers in the center, blew out the candles. We walked hand in hand to the living room to watch Tov. I turned on Netflix and we selected an old Robert Taylor film, Waterloo Bridge. As soon as the grainy black and white movie began, Mil asked me to make it louder. I thought it was too loud and pretended I turned the volume up. ‘How’s that? Better?’ I asked. ‘No, Dear, make it just a little louder, please.’ This time I did increase the volume and watched her face. She was twitching, leaning in towards the Tov. ‘Better?’ I asked again. ‘Oh, much better,’ she lied.
‘Sweetheart, I think it is time your go for a hearing test. Suzy will go with you. How about it?’ Mildred told me then that she has an appointment with her internist. ‘He’ll check me out, Dear. I’m a little tired. You don’t have to come upstairs with me. Watch your shows.’
Reluctantly, I let her go.
Two weeks passed and Mil was still asking me what I said even though I had raised my voice much louder than normal. Finally, I could not stand it any more and questioned her as if she were a common thief. ‘Did you see Dr. Lending?’ Yes,’ ‘What did he say?’ ‘He said my arches are falling and I need lifts.’ ‘What else did he say, Mildred?’ ‘He said my cholesterol is too high and increased my statins.’ ‘Come on, Wifey, what about your hearing?’ ‘Only that I should have a CAT scan to be sure there is nothing going on in my brain. I told him not to charge a lot as my brain is empty. Dr. Lending thought that was funny. My CAT scan is next Monday. Want some ice cream?’
I didn’t wait for the Monday scan and called Dr. Lending myself. ‘What’s this stuff about Mildred’s ears and a CAT Scan, Doc?’
He quickly told me not to alarmed but Mildred’s ears checked out fine so we have to make sure nothing else is happening. There were several times she asked me to repeat what I said. The report should be ready by Wednesday. My office will call you.’
Would Wednesday ever come? Being tricky, elusive, has never been my style but I was this time. I kept my concerns boarded up inside of me.
Dr. Lending’s office didn’t call until Thursday with the wonderful report that nothing was found to worry about. ‘Mildred, the doctor’s office just called,’ I sang with a merry note. ‘Your scan is all negative.’
He wants you to see Dr. Hulett, an ear specialist, 415-260-5777. Lucky number, Mil. Call him now. I’ll go with you!’
No appointment was open for the next week. We took the 8th day. Busy waiting room, enough to turn our one o’clock appointment to 2. Lots of magazines, none that I read. The Tov. was on but not the sound. Mil said she couldn’t hear it and asked me to make it louder. My explanation was loud enough for all the waiting patients to hear me. ‘Mil, the sound is off.’ She looked at me as if I were deranged. ‘Why are you shouting. I can hear you.’
Dr. Hulett was efficient, at least it seemed that way to me. He had his assistant hand him a long, frightening looking instrument. As he gently put it deep into Mil’s canal, he told her not to cringe. This may hurt a little. My brave soldier didn’t move a muscle. Dr. Hulett dropped something in the tray his assistant had been holding and showed it to us. A small piece of one of Mil’s earrings must have come loose and lodged in the canal.
Why didn’t the first ear doctor find that? Why didn’t the Cat Scan show something there? I shook my head, went tsk tsk, and Mildred gave me a dirty look, told me not to be nasty. Her hearing was perfect.
The Cat Scan went to Medicare for $3500. The tech department received $1115 and our subsidiary insurance policy paid $40.. The first doctor received a nasty letter from me and half of his $175 fee. I marked the check ‘paid in full’.
At dinner I didn’t have to yell, gently said, ‘I love you, Mil’ and she answered, ‘I love you too, Dear.’
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