Well Ma'am...what do you want?

A scenario presented itself today where a mere phrase [from the past] seemed to put things right into perspective. A friend was helping me arrange the bird feeder situation that is directly outside the living room bay window. In the 19 years that I have lived here, watching the birds has been both entertaining and fun. Only one snafu keeps it from perfection...squirrels! They are the poster animal for 'arobatic persistence' and often prevail despite any and all attempts to thwart them. So I need a baffle to keep them out of the birdfeeder. When my co-conspirator said, "It's too bad that baffles don't look that great." And that's when the phrase popped right into my mind:
Well Ma'am...what do you want?


Some background info as to how the phrase came to be:
My RA[rheumatoid arthritis] burst onto the scene on Jan 12, 1990 when I woke up and my feet hurt. A week later, my hands hurt. I made a doctor appointment, had some bloodwork, and was told I had RA. Disbelieving this diagnosis, in March[earliest appt.] I went for a second opinion at a teaching hospital facility which was 2 hours away. Same outcome. At that point[reality], I knew that I probably needed to find a rheumatologist more local than 2 hours away. In April [earliest appt.], my mom accompanied me to doctor #3. Mom's second husband, Ray, had RA and so Flo certainly had more perspective and knowledge about this than I did. My perspective was 4 months of a 'life-changing health issue and pain.'



The doctor, Mom, and I were in Room #3 and after he had reviewed all of my history[from the other two medical reports], he said: "Well, we can start with a course of prednisone to provide some immediate relief while the long term medicine begins to build a blood level."
At which point my mom says, "What about the side effects?"

The Dr.'s hands were mid air in explanation and in response they fell to the desk as he said,
"Well Ma'am...what do you want?...We can talk about relief ...or we can talk about side effects?"

I was all about the relief, and thus began my now 19 year relationship with the doctor who from that day on was referred to as 'the desk pounder'[!!] by my mom.

And 'Well Ma'am, what do you want?' has lived on to be used a hundred times because it really does clarify a situation into the reality of the two choices.


Back to the squirrels' baffle:
Well Ma'am...What do you want?...esthetics...or watch the birds- not the squirrels!!
I will be enjoying the many, varied, and unusual birds!!



Postnote: The desk pounder and I have a great relationship. He has always been there for me and my flares...easily accessible and understanding.] To Flo...still 'the desk pounder!'

You know what they say about first impressions!!!