I hate doctor's offices, don't you? Sit in the waiting room catching God knows what. Then a nice nurse calls your name and leads you to a cold, impersonal room and has you climb up on one of those hard beds, takes your vitals and then is gone. Then you're left to entertain yourself while the doctor visits the others left in those little rooms.

I must say, though, that these rooms have come a long way. The one I sat in on May 30, 2006 had blue paint on the walls. There is a framed picture, a reproduction of a painting in this particular room. It is of a forest path. The colors are muted to give it a soft, inviting look. The path has a few gentle turns that disappear around some trees. I like this particular picture. It brings to mind paths I've yet to travel in life and the ones yet hidden to me.

I was pondering all this when my doctor, Dr. Thomas McCulloh opens the door and breezes in. Notice that doctors breeze in and out of patient rooms? Anyhow, he comes in to discuss my six month checkup and the results of the bloodwork I had a week before. I'm diabetic so this is a routine I must endure. Don't get me wrong. Dr. McCulloh has a nice manner and soft voice. He's a good doctor. I'm just not one for doctor's visits.

The good doctor starts going over my results. My diabetes is out of control, averaging 250 for my blood sugar. This reading is suppose to be in the 90-140 range. Now I get to take two of my regular pills per day and add two per day. Next up, my cholesterol has gone crazy. Now Lipitor is added to my regimen. My kitchen cabinet looks like a veritable pharmacy! But wait, there's more! He, as I've been for years, is concerned about my weight. I can't stick to any eating plan and I'm gaining. He strongly suggested that I look into Lap Band surgery. Gee Doc, any good news?

He suggests a clinic in Edmond, writes out my new prescriptions and breezes out. I hate when they do that!