Yesterday I had my first annual physical, with someone other than my trusted long-time ob/gyn (the woman who delivered my son), since she moved out of state. She moved on to bigger and better opportunities and I am happy for her. Really, I am. But finding the right ob/gyn, for me, is fraught with greater difficulty than finding a reliable mechanic. I searched for some time. It took nearly a year before I found another female ob/gyn to my liking. Well, one who seemed suitable enough to merit a test-run, at least. So I arrived to my appointment yesterday, a little stressed out. Tardy due to unexpected Metrodome traffic. Luckily the front desk whisked me through quickly and before long the nurse was going through the usuals with me. It started off all right. There was the weigh-in. No big surprises there, but still not my favorite thing (I refuse to own a scale). Then it was on to measure my height. I am, allegedly, 5′1″ now. I’m not buying this. At my last yearly I was told I had grown to just over 5′0″ at some time during my pregnancy (after fifteen years of being 4′11″). And now this? How can I, at my age, *still* be growing taller? Shouldn’t I actually be shrinking soon? Bizarre. So I was already a bit wary after the nurse relayed that to me…then she broke the news that I was due for a tetanus shot. Doh. By the time I had donned the paper gown I was downright leery…and ready to make a break for it. But then the new doc arrived. An escape at that point would be clumsy, at best, and likely highly embarrassing. She managed to put me somewhat at ease, though. She is quite personable. For a doctor. We went through all the awkward getting-to-know-you chitchat before she, umm, got to it. And then. She busted out the dreaded speculum and… couldn’t find my danged cervix. That was a first. It took her several tries. She was very apologetic about the whole thing, and tried to explain how it’s not terribly uncommon…but it was still so weird. And uncomfortable, in more ways than one. I think we were both relieved when the exam was over with. And it certainly was good to be back in, umm, civilian attire (”street clothes” just has a bad connotation). It was still a while before I was able to leave, however. First some waiting, then the tetanus shot (I’m fine as long as I don’t look). Then some more waiting, in a different part of the building, and then the blood draw (ditto). I was a bit out of sorts when I left, but glad to be gone. Until next year.