Little Bip went to a specialist’s office yesterday. Despite hours of waiting and miserable testing, he was a champ. The results of the test were a relief. An issue with potential long-lasting impact is clearing up and he should be fine in the end.

The doctor, a middle aged man, told us to return in two weeks for a follow-up appointment. We asked about going to an office closer to home. He replied that the doctor who staffed that office was on maternity leave, so we’d have to make the longer trek. Then, for no apparent reason, he relayed that he had an earlier partner who had labor induced on a Friday, then was back at work on Monday.

Summing it up, he flatly said, “But they just don’t make them like they used to.”

I looked at Lisa with wide eyes. As we were stepping up to the desk to schedule the appointment I whispered, “I wasn’t going to mention that I’m on paternity leave for a month.”