Treasure Coast

Away from politics there are still battles to fight.

What in Europe is better than in America? Nothing.

I was at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, a few weeks ago. I’m OK, thanks for asking. I had noticed on my “vitals” card I thought the nurse recorded my height as 180, and my weight wrong on the wrong line. No it was a correct entry; it was my height in centimeters for crissake, and my weight was recorded in kilograms (the number is too unprideful to share).

Next, I wonder will my bill will come in pounds or francs or doubloons? They should put 1 for metric, 2 for Spanish, and 3 for American at the top of the bill.

I asked the nurse, in kinder words, What the heck and why? She claims many large (large being the key word I presume) hospitals do this in metrics. I said, I don’t and that I have had 112 physicals in my 32-year military and civilian aviation career, three hospital entries for surgeries on limbs, and no one ever asked how tall was I in centimeters. Furthermore, I said, kilos are for drug dealers not bathroom scales, from which I work and cry daily. I objected to the recording of my weight and height in metrics as un-American and I was not going to see an Indian or Pakistani doctor. Au contraire, I then met Dr. Linga from India and a small light bulb in my feeble brain glowed with understanding.

I have been asked to not complain in the future, but I will, I am an American and Americans do not give up, or weigh in kilos. ‘Nuff said. I am dieting to lose 10 kilos, 15 to go.

Mike Bever, Vero Beach

