Swapping roles

I suddenly found myself in a new situation; a role I have not played before. My husband had to undergo a routine medical test, and advised by the doctor, he would need to be accompanied and driven home. Usually I am the patient, and my husband escorts me to all my doctor's appointments, and waits calmly while I have tests or surgery, but this time the tables were turned as we swapped roles for the day. Our daughter had taken time off work as she was the designated driver, and the three of us, all for one and one for all, set off to the medical center. Sitting in the waiting area was the strangest feeling of all and quite foreign to me, for over the years we've become accustomed to our allotted roles. I'm the patient and my husband has the role of caregiver. That's the way it's always been and what we're used to. So unaccustomed to this reversal of roles, when my husband's name was called, he rushed off down the corridor at warp speed and was quickly out of view. I didn't even get the chance to give him the customary long lingering kiss, or say the mandatory "good luck" which he always whispers encouragingly to me before a test or surgery. But with Parkinson's it takes me so long to stand up, my walking painfully slow, I couldn't catch up with him before he disappeared through the automatic sliding doors, that made a swooshing noise reminiscent of the doors in Star Ship Enterprise. All that we were missing was a doctor named "Bones"! My husband was boldly going where he had not ventured forth before.   

I'm sure we are like most couples and have the habit of always sleeping on a particular side of the bed. It's almost like an unwritten rule that is never broken, and even when staying with family or in hotel we automatically without hesitation or question sleep on the same side of the bed as we do at home. To sleep on the opposite side would just be wrong! So there I sat waiting for my husband in a long sterile looking corridor, and it felt weird, very odd indeed - I was on the wrong side!

Finally he materialised, and all was well. However, since I have years of experience under my belt of tests and surgery and practically have a masters degree in being hospitalised! I think we'll stick to the roles we know best, for he is the best caring husband any woman could ask for, and I've endless patience in being a good patient!