“So, what brings you here today, Lou?” asked Dr. Patterson.
“I can’t sleep, Doc!” replied Lou in despair. “I’m so tired! I haven’t slept a wink!”
“If I had a dollar for every time I heard that!” laughed the doctor. “Look, Lou. Of all the ailments people discuss with me, the greatest number of complaints isn’t about body aches, irritable bowels, erectile dysfunction or psoriasis: the most talked-about topic is lack of sleep. Falling asleep at bedtime and getting a good night’s rest is a problem that plagues millions so you’re not alone in this. I’m going to ask you some questions; let’s see if we can come up with a solution.”
Lou yawned and nodded in agreement. His wife Marie chimed in. “Maybe you should start by telling the doctor how much coffee you drink every day.”
“Ok, that’s an excellent suggestion. How much coffee do you drink, Lou?” asked Dr. Patterson, his fingers hovering over the keys of his computer.
“Oh, I guess about eight cups a day and an espresso after dinner. We have one of those – whatchamacallits – Keurig machines. Fantastic things! Just pop in a little plastic cup and brew yourself fresh coffee in thirty seconds!”
“Whoa! That’s a lot of caffeine!” The doctor was clearly flabbergasted.” You need to cut back. If you drink that much coffee at least half of it should be decaf. I’d like to eventually get you down to just one cup of regular coffee in the morning. How about alcohol?”
“Go ahead, Lou. Answer the doctor” Marie said, giving her husband a nudge with her elbow.
“I’ll have a couple of glasses of my cousin Carlo’s homemade vino while Marie’s preparing dinner. And another glass or two with dinner. Oh yeah, I like a nice sambucca while I’m watching “The Tonight Show” with that Jimmy Fallon. He’s a funny guy!”
The doctor stared at Lou allowing his words to sink in.
“What form of exercise do you engage in?” the doctor asked.
“Exercise!?” squawked Marie. “The strongest parts of his body are his fingers … from pushing himself away from the dining room table, surfing the net and using the remote control.”
Lou’s eyes shot daggers at his wife. She shrugged. “What? It’s the truth and you know it.”
“What about your diet, Lou?” asked Dr. Patterson while eyeing Lou’s sizeable belly.
“Diet? I ain’t on no diet, doc! My Marie is a fabulous cook!” Lou exclaimed, making her blush. “She makes everything from scratch, including her pizza, pasta, braciola, arancini – you name it, she can make it. And her ricotta cheesecake? Fuggedaboutit!”
“Well, it’s wonderful that Marie’s such a great cook but it sounds like you’re eating a lot of heavy and fattening foods” the doctor replied with concern.
“What’s wrong with pizza?” Lou asked incredulously. “It’s the perfect food – something from all the food groups. You got your carbohydrates, your protein and your dairy, right?”
“Well, technically, yes but I wouldn’t call it ‘the perfect food’. Dr. Patterson entered all Lou’s information into his computer. “Let me get this straight, Lou. Your caffeine and alcohol intake is off the charts, you eat rich foods and desserts, you spend a lot of time in front of some type of device, you stay up late and you don’t exercise. Is that about right?”
“Yeah, I guess” Lou admitted begrudgingly.
“Do you realize that everything you’re doing is adversely affecting your quality of sleep? And what about you, Marie! How well do you sleep?”
“Who, me? Why, I sleep like a rock” Marie answered proudly.
“You’re not kidding! You should hear her snore, doc!” Lou guffawed. “What a racket! It sounds like bocce balls rolling around the court! That’s probably why I can’t sleep!”
Marie huffed indignantly.
“You snore, Marie? Sounds to me like you could have sleep apnea – a serious disorder. Considering everything we’ve discussed I’m referring you, Lou, to a life management specialist. And Marie, I’m scheduling a sleep disorder study for you.”
Lou and Marie stared at the doctor in shock.
“Can’t you just give me some sleeping pills?” pleaded Lou.
“And maybe all I need are some of those nose strips” Marie suggested hopefully.
“I’m afraid not. You need to make some serious life changes” replied the doctor showing Marie and Lou out the door.
“Thanks a lot, Marie, making me tell the doctor everything!” Lou griped. “This is all your fault!”
“Oh, shut up, Lou! You can get your own damn dinner tonight. I’m on strike! And another thing – vaffanculo!”
NAR © 2021
Reposted for Fandango’s http://fivedotoh.com/2022/12/04/fowc-with-fandango-flabbergasted/
The Elephant's Trunk 
Great story and very realistic dialogue between a long married couple.
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Thanks! This is pretty much what some members of my family are like 🤣
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This is wonderful! I think I laughed from beginning to end, and the dialogue was so realistic I could imagine being in the room with them!
“What’s wrong with pizza?” Lou asked incredulously. “It’s the perfect food – something from all the food groups. You got your carbohydrates, your protein and your dairy, right?”
Yeah, pizza is the ‘perfect food.’ Of course it is. Hilarious!
But this wonderful story has a serious point. If you want to be in good health, don’t drink more than nine cups of coffee, five glasses of wine, or eat more than six pizzas a day!
Brilliant writing, Nancy!
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Always a great pleasure to read your reviews, Simon. Thank you! Being a first generation Siciliana and a lover of good food and wine, this story was a fun one for me to write. Nothing came close to my mother’s homemade pasta and her pizza was far better than anything available in the local pizzeria. As they say in The Bronx – “Fuhgeddaboudit!!” 🥖 🍝 🍕 🍷
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Well, believe it or not, I’m just about to eat a pizza right now, at almost 3 a.m. in the UK! My first pizza for probably six months or more, too. I’ve loaded it with extra tomatoes and hot chilli sauce but I’m sure it won’t compare to your mum’s!!
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Buon appetito!! And keep the Brioschi handy! Lol!
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