noise
The timing was right. Arrival at the kiosk adjacent to the MRI rooms gave enough time to complete the patient surveys and sit for less than a minute before being called to an office also serving as a dressing room. Instructions to remove all items from my pocket were useless since my pants had to be removed for the procedure. Personal items secured and paper shorts adorned, I was led to the waiting white machine with the giant white wheel into which I would be inserted. Given earplugs to protect my drums from damage and a pillow under my knees, a warm blanket was placed over my torso and hand holding the emergency call device. I was told to relax as the procedure would take about twenty minutes. Slowly I was transported on the moving table into the waiting white cylinder where buzzing, popping and ultimately what sounded like battling gunshots consumed the space. Never having experienced claustrophobia my mind wandered to what it must be like; what must be the precipitating thought or experience that leads to the fear that must consume in that space. Not wanting to create my own experience, my thoughts wandered to the magnificence of the technology that created the device into which I was inserted. Again, buzzing, popping, and rapid firing erupted to consume the space. I heard a faint voice calling my name and stating that the procedure was over. The blanket was removed as the call button was retrieved and the earplugs deposited into the waiting hand of a technician. Upon standing, I suddenly understood the yellow wrist band stating “Falling risk.” As I placed my watch back on my wrist I observed the time indicating the entire procedure had taken less than 45 minutes to complete. Fraught with thankfulness that the procedure was available and that it had been so very easy to navigate, my drive home was filled with uplifting thoughts of gratitude. A grateful mind has little room for angst and displeasure. May your mind be filled with gratitude this day!