Plastic Surgery, a hellish drive home and a cute welcome

Monday, July 22

This afternoon, I have a serious date with a plastic surgeon. That annoying bit of sun cancer beside my left eye is to be removed at last. I've been nursing it right through my travels.

I opt to have it done with local anesthetic only. That way I can drive myself. For a moment, I even wonder whether I should invite the dogs along in case we get a chance for another walk afterwards but luckily decide against that option.

I am the last op for the day and it is well and truly five o'clock when I'm ready to leave the hospital. It is dark, the rush hour traffic is in full swing and it has started to rain. The lights of hundreds of cars reflect off the wet road.
My left eye is a bit paralyzed from the injections and I can't blink away any tears. Every so often, I slide a finger behind the glasses to physically help my eye to blink. 

Although it is quite a drive from hell, I still manage to get home an hour later which is about the normal time.

Not a very pretty sight

Having been dark for over an hour now, everybody is looking for their dinner, including the possums.

I park the car beside the house, leaving the car lights on and walk round the corner to the backdoor. I'm greeted by my golden possum who comes walking towards me, looking up at me expectantly. 

Fearing she might have ideas of climbing up my legs, I quickly put my hand down. Goldie sits up on her haunches, grabs my hand with her little paws and tentatively nibbles one of my knuckles. I pull my hand away, pat her on the head and tell her I'll be right back as I walk to the door.

Quickly cut up some apple and put the pieces into the possum dish. She doesn't come though. When I walk back towards the car, she's still sitting there in the light, exactly where I'd left her. I fetch a piece of apple and bring it to her. She takes it very daintily with both paws, puts it into her mouth and then runs up a fence post where she sits to eat it.

I suspect possums can't really see in the light.

Unfortunately, I only have the mobile phone at hand which takes a very lousy picture. But in case you wonder, here is an earlier picture of Goldie.