I advised my sister to request an ultrasound of her inner organs because of some curious blood tests that did not rise to the level of alarm in her doctor but did indicate some inconsistencies in the performance of her renal system. I’m sure she’s fine (I tell myself, too), but it never hurts to look inside.

You need to advocate harder for your medical supervision than you think you need to, unfortunately. We’ve all read the stories about women who aren’t being taken seriously. Just tell your doctor you’re anxious!

I’ve been thinking lately I want to acquire an ultrasound machine and also an acoustic blood pressure monitor still reading mercury. A mercurial heart monitor? I miss getting my abdomen smoothed over with cold globbity lube, harmlessly scanned by a plastic wand. Stethoscope, sonars, amplifiers.

You know without seeing, that my organs work, or I would not be here to say so, but I want you to know that my chest is full of melody.