Memoir: Captain’s Blood Pressure

After Captain and I made our journey to Utah, we moved in with our grandparents. I started my long career of dating and dancing while Captain diligently focused on preparing to serve a mission by going to the local family ward, where he wouldn’t be tempted by evil women and finding a good job and working long hard hours. My hours were long too…

As the time for Captain to turn in his papers neared, he needed to have a physical exam to make sure he was healthy for wherever the Lord was going to send him. I had had a late night and was sleeping in my room (it was about 7:30am) when Captain came barging in yelling at me that he was going to be late for his doctors appointment and I needed to find his insurance card. Needless to say, I was annoyed, no one likes to be awaken by a snotty, yelling brother so I told him I’d given him his card and I had no idea where it was. “You didn’t give me my card or I would have it.” Was his argument (the kids got a point). I knew I had given him his card because I had seen it on his dresser a few days before. “Captain, I don’t have your card. Did you look on your dresser?” He left in a huff, slamming my door behind him and 30 seconds later I heard the car start and he drove off. I drifted off to sleep again, with sweet dreams of dancing with my current heartthrob. I couldn’t have been dozing for more than ½ hour when for the second time Captain came bursting into my bedroom in a rage. His face was red and he could hardly breathe, he was mad. I was alarmed at first, did something bad happen to him? Was someone mean to him? I’d kick their trash. Who would make my little brother so upset? Apparently, it was me, but I didn’t know it yet. “What’s wrong?” I asked with genuine concern. I was wide awake and ready to be there for my sweet brother. “I went to the doctor’s office and failed my physical because my blood pressure was too high because you made me mad before I went there.” Oh,…. I see. Captain was never one to mince words, I can appreciate that at times, but this was not one of those times. I don’t remember the particulars of the conversation that followed but I believe is included a few four letter words (from me) and ended with “get the hell out of my room before I destroy your blood pressure completely.”

Captain’s blood pressure is still an issue; unfortunately, I don’t live anywhere near him so I can only speculate that his wife is the cause of the problem now.