Barbara J. Hamby

Self Diagnosis

Recently I read that, if you suspect someone is having a stroke, or is exhibiting suspicious symptoms, you should ask several questions. The ones I remember are to ask the person to smile and ask them to raise both arms. It has occurred to me to wonder whether, if you are having strange symptoms, you should try those actions yourself. Or, is it possible the fact that you can remember those instructions is enough proof that you’re okay?

This morning I awoke at 5:00 a.m. with a terrible headache. I couldn’t get back to sleep, so got out of bed an hour later, wrapped up in an afghan and curled up in a recliner. I started reading the Sunday paper, which I never seem to get around to doing on Sunday. I saw a picture of a raccoon and couldn’t think of the word, except that it started with an “r”. I began to wonder if I were having some sort of attack, so I smiled and raised my arms. I continued to smile, thinking I’m turning into a hypochondriac.

Several hours later I remembered the word, “raccoon.”