Sometimes I think that is the story of my life. Waiting, waiting, waiting. Waiting for what? Impatience, I think, is my biggest vice, my greatest downfall. Inability to be content with what I have, here and now. Waiting, waiting, waiting for something better, or even just for something.
I did finally see Dr. Bone in October, a week later than originally planned because of the snowstorm. The good news is, he thinks the problem I'm having is cartilage-related rather than bone-related. This would mean that although I'd still be looking at surgery, it would be a much smaller, less invasive and extreme operation. (Not that the bones won't eventually become a problem and require the bigger operation someday, but for now I'll take the little victories.) He wanted me to get an MRI so he could get a better idea of what's going on in there. I finally got that done two weeks ago (after it too was delayed for various reasons beyond my control). Now it's waiting, waiting to hear back from Dr. Bone, find out the results. Likely followed by waiting, waiting to see yet another doctor and waiting, waiting, waiting some more for surgery. As of right now it's just shy of 6 months since I first went to the doctor for this, and there's no tangible "end" in sight yet. Waiting waiting waiting.
Thanksgiving was nice. Hung out with Joe's family, ate lots of pie. On Black Friday, Joe and I decided to venture out shopping for bedroom furniture. I think we pretty much came to the conclusion that modern furniture stores sell crap. We went to the Gently Used Furniture store in Hamburg, and there was a solid cherry bedroom set. Two dressers, nightstand, bed frame. Probably 40-50 years old, and in great shape. So, we bought it. Merry Christmas to us. :-) Now it's all set up in Joe's apartment, waiting for a mattress, pillows, linens, a lamp. Waiting to be filled with clothes and covered with cute little knick-knacks. Waiting waiting waiting.
In December, Joe's flying out to Washington, DC for a few days on his first-ever business trip. Molly's coming to visit in a couple of weeks and I'm taking her to see Rent. There are office Christmas parties and Christmas with my family and a whole week off to look forward to. Waiting waiting waiting.
And then the year is over and it's time to finish the wedding planning, finalize the honeymoon plans, start packing up all my stuff and moving little bits at a time over to Joe's apartment. With a little monkey wrench of surgery and recovery possibly thrown in there. Waiting waiting waiting, just to be married already. And then what? Waiting waiting waiting for something else, if I know me.
This year has passed in a flash. It's a symptom of getting older, time passing faster, just when you start wishing it would slow down. Although right now I find myself wishing it would speed up. Why? Stress maybe. Too many things going on, and too many places to be. I want to get there, and then just stop, and be, and enjoy. But it never seems to work that way. We spend so much time wishing time would speed up, that once we get to whatever we've been anticipating, it speeds right by before we even get a chance to take a good look at it.
Maybe instead of waiting waiting waiting, I should figure out what's good about right now, and enjoy it, and remember that now is all I'm guaranteed.
But I always say that, don't I.