Yesterday I went to the pharmacy to fill my monthly prescriptions – insulin, test strips, Medtronic infusion sets, cholesterol pills….
It took a while to get everything since there was a line, but I got my diabetes supplies and walked out carrying a large semi-translucent blue shopping bag full of my diabetes supplies. No matter how many times I do it, I always feel kind of uncomfortable when I walk out of the pharmacy with a large shopping bag of supplies. It’s not just that ‘having a chronic illness sucks‘ feeeling. I also feel like everyone is staring at it. And apparently, I’m right about that.
I crossed the street and went in to our local French pastry shop, The Patisserie, to get a cup of coffee. I said hello to the owner (a nice French woman with a heavy accent) and the young woman working behind the counter. Within seconds the woman behind the counter jumped up, totally excited, and said, “I’ve got one too!”
I wasn’t sure what she was talking about until I realized she was pointing at my shopping bag. Then she reached into her pocket and pulled out a blue Medtronic insulin pump.
- Pump Close Up
I took mine out and showed it to her, kind of like a secret hand shake, and asked if I could take her picture.
Then after that moment of diabetes bonding we talked for a bit. She asked me how and when I “got” my diabetes and she told me how she was diagnosed after being in a car accident when she was 7-years- old (she is 24 now). The trauma from the accident may have triggered it.
I don’t eat any of the things sold at The Patisserie, but I enjoy going in and looking at the beautiful cakes, breads and pastries, and I usually end up bringing something good home for the kids (the official name for these pastries in our home, thanks to Adam, is a yummy). But I couldn’t imagine spending hours around all those baked goods, and not eating them. So I asked my new friend why, of all places, did she work at a pastry shop. She told me she doesn’t touch any of the food (except during a few lows) and that working there makes her stronger.
Running Update: Last week I ran 58 miles. I started speed training this week with what my coach calls a 5K test. I ran my first 5K ever, though it wasn’t a race. We all ran on a track. Being my first 5K I have a new PR, 21:26.
