See you later, Alligator.

Yesterday I preregistered for surgery. I am always looking for a "sign,"something that says this is  a good move you are making. Karma or kismet or fate having a hand in my decision, I guess. The thing is it never happens. Do I not have a mystical side? . In fourth grade  I plucked my share of daisy petals,"he loves me, he loves me not." But my crush went unrequited. In junior high school I tried the Magic 8 Ball, "will I be chosen for the Pop Warner Cheerleading  team?" "Decidedly so." Didn't happen. Even the college era Ouiji Board failed to foresee a bad grade in Russian history, something everyone who knew me could have predicted.

                                                               Door #2 or Door #3?

So it was no surprise that my appointment with registration went by the book. It didn't matter which door I chose. Instead of a new car or a French door refrigerator appearing, an officious looking clerk called me back to present my picture ID and insurance cards, once again. But this time, as we finished the usual paperwork, she went out of her way to escort me around to the next stop, the Same Day Surgery Waiting Room, and assured me a surgical nurse would call me back soon.

Before I could finish nervously flipping through last year's fashion magazine (animal print purses are in, really?) CJ called my name. In a private little office she began to review my medical history but instead of procedures and dates, she asked about experiences and outcomes. She walked me through who would be working with me the morning of surgery and suggested a way or two to make that difficult morning go a little smoother. Then, as we walked out, she introduced me to the volunteer clerk who would be staffing the desk that day.

So there was no rainbow arcing across the sky as I walked to my car. A happy little bluebird did not lite on my side rear view window, although I did see one there a few weeks ago so it could have happened. But, as I drove past the retention pond that parallels the parking lot and scanned the surface of the water like I always do,  lazily cruising along the far side of the lake was a five or six foot alligator. He drifted slowly toward a shady spot near the shore to take a nap.

The only "sign"I saw was the one that warned us not to feed or molest the wildlife. But he made me smile and I had to admit my appointment had been a positive experience.