I’ll spare you the recovery details (the blood-purple TOES were a little much), but did want to share a good Dr. resource I came across along the way.  Ben Kittredge, one of the Docs at Commonwealth Orthopedics which has offices on Duke Street in Alexandria and out in the wilds of Springfield.   He was recommended to me by a trainer friend who called him one of the best in the area (as did Washingtonian back in Top Docs ’08).

I’ve seen him a few times to good result.   He’s got a no-nonsense, rapid fire manner that seems to come with the territory of staccato pop medical care these days.   So if you’re looking for a lot of chit-chat and hand holding, maybe not your bag.  But when he’s in with you, you feel like you’re getting his full attention on your issues.  He has the bearing of an athlete and brings a common sense, pragmatic perspective to thinking about your recovery or repair options.  In my case, beyond my ankle, I also have a bum shoulder from tennis.  He helped me think through the investment/return equation of any invasive procedure and how high the discomfort bar should before going this kind of route.

Thankfully I’ve not needed his surgical skills.  Though a friend has and spoke well of the rebuilt shoulder Dr. Kittredge whipped up for him.  But based on my consult-only experience so far, a recommendation worth passing along once more.

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Poster: Dana Damico (www.feastafterfamine.com)

My five-year-old slumped off the school bus the other day clutching her ear and crying.

“My ear hurts really, really, really, really, really, really bad,” she said.

One of her three siblings was feeling poorly too and I could see a rough night ahead. So, instead of crossing the street for home, we marched right up to The Neighborhood Pharmacy on the Avenue. I bought three bottles of children’s Motrin and one bottle for infants before heading home.

A trip to the doctor first thing the following morning confirmed the obvious: a “really” bad ear infection.

For the second time in two days, we stopped by the pharmacy for help. I dropped off the prescription and told Owner and Pharmacist Stacey Swartz I’d be back for the medicine if I could get my next-door neighbor to watch the children.

Not to worry, she said. They would deliver.

Wait! What?

Deliver?

I had spent the past few days nursing sick kids and my own sinus infection. My husband recently fell ill with the flu too. I cannot tell you how grateful I was for that simple act of convenience and kindness.

Allyson Eichner, the pharmacy’s technician, knocked on my door a few hours after I dropped off the prescription. The kids were all napping — sleeping off the funk and refueling their bodies. She delivered the medicine with a smile and talked about what a pretty day it was to be out for a walk.

I shared the incident later with friends outside Del Ray and they all marveled at the idea of a neighborhood pharmacy with friendly folks that care for their customers. “It sounds like Mayberry,” one said.

In a way, yes. But it’s not fictional.

You can find Stacey and Allyson at 2204 Mount Vernon Avenue. I’m sure you’ll find them as knowledgeable and personable as I have.

[Note they also have a useful blog on health related info.]

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You know the outfit.  You’ve noticed the office next to the Farmers Market lot a million times.  And if you’re like me, you might have attached some vague question mark to it… something about a dentist office in what should be a house (circa 1970’s) right in the middle of a residential neighborhood.  I don’t know exactly what I I envisioned inside that nondescript, pressed stone wonder. But whatever it was, remarkable was not on the imagined adjective list.

But worthy of remark it is.  Dr. Stone’s outfit runs like a top and makes for a great spot to take care of a not great necessity, episodically or no.  Why?  First, there’s the exception to the rule that all medically related waiting rooms must be dull and full of out of date magazines.  Enter the world of Stone and you’re greeted by foot massagers, comfy sofas, a big TV, soothing water features, bottled waters, cookies, plenty of mags (recent too) and lots of space.  I found myself wanting to tarry a few and just tune out, a rare  bit of solo time in hand.   Funny thing is, so far I’ve found the fab waiting room to be something of a head fake… the place is running so briskly that they’re whisking you back for dental fun before your backside hits the chair.

On your way back you pass lots of big pictures of happy folks, with pretty smiles.  A suitable warm up for what seems like an endless row of immaculate dental repair bays with what look like happy hygienists and patients in each.  The room I landed in was clean and bright, with yet another TV playing the morning news (or whatever else I wanted) and was outfitted with a computer station (of course, dental software).  Everywhere I turned while in one of those laid back chairs it seemed there was a helpful placard or tip detailing how I could overcome my various dental failings.

As for the people, they live up to the vibe of the rest of the place.  My hygeniest was energetic and incredibly friendly with lots of improvement tips and general encouragements that yes, hope remained for a brighter dental future.  The guy with his name on the building is immaculately put together and looks the picture of health and work-life balance.  Wearing a golf shirt that seems to say, “yeah I play a lot of golf, but given how well this joint is running, you see anything more time at work could improve?”, he gives you a focused greeting complete with the practiced eye contact and handshake (with presidential  forearm touch) of a seasoned politician.  Their various roles and responsibilities seem expertly rehearsed with each telling you ahead of time what the other is about to do, why they’re doing it and why it’s a good thing.

The whole place is just so pulled together and polished, it’s almost scary in a Pleasantville/Truman Show kind of way.  But in the end, it’s your choppers we’re talking about here.  Typically a topic for misgivings, discomfort and neglect.  But in the surprising world of Stone, not so fearsome after all…. almost, and oddly, welcoming.

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