My Brain on Insurance (Overload)

Remember "This is your brain on drugs?"
Here is my brain on insurance overload:
                         .
Yes,it's the size of a period.
No it hasn't always been that small.
Yesterday, after one too many insurance calls with impenetrable phone trees-
"Press five if you'd rather stick pins in your eyes"
 and a snarly customer disservice agent
and an assault of acronyms-
"Did you get an EOB with your COB?"
my brain exploded-
(didn't hurt as much as expected as my mind was numb)
and then condensed.
Wonder what the ICD -10 code is for that?
Brain shrinkage due to environmental factors?
Please don't suggest I call my insurance company-
I'm SOB* just considering it.


*Shortness of breath

A.H.

Coffee Drinks Only My Husband Orders

"Mud Eye."
Blank look from barista.
"Mud shot."
Contined blank look.
He's done it again -
confounded, conflated, combined,
created new names.
What he really wants is:
A Shot in the Dark
aka Red Eye, Sludge Cup
or Depth Charge.*
Just hope he doesn't request
and get
a Shot in the Eye.

*names for a shot or more of espresso in a cup of coffee - a strong cup of coffee.

A.H.

Crafted Greens

Say what?
Seen on a menu-
"crafted greens."
Does this mean
arugula needlepoint
or perhaps
macrame with lettuce?
Crocheted cress anyone?
Knitting with frisée?
Suspect it is simply
salad.

A.H.

Roger's Shoes*

"Of what avail this restless, hurrying activity, this heavy weight of earthly duties."
Tukaram

Left
by the side
of the bed-
Roger's shoes.
Running shoes
no longer needed.
Nothing needed now,
the collection
of earthly items
shucked off, useless,
reminding those left behind
of what was shed.
What is left behind:
running shoes
and miles
of memories
and love.

*In memory of my brother-in-law Roger Watson who died Nov.1, 2015 from early-onset dementia (Lewy body.)

A.H.