Calm Before the Storm

I have found that

I love

the fragrance of chlorohexadine

Wrapped in the simple sterile packaging

included with the nail-pick

the soft-bristle sponge

(a gentle yet bold statement)

soothes my frazzled senses

What’s more, I’ve found

I love

the texture of the prickly brush as I scrub meticulously

over every inch

every crease

every possible crevice of contamination

In those allotted five minutes

I am allowed this

peace

to soak in the assertive scratches

and scrubs

of bristles and sponge

alternating between

rich chlorohexadine liquid

and

scratchy foaming

In truth

it’s nothing surprising

this obsessive

almost ritualistic practice

why wouldn’t I find this

soothing

calming

and extremely satisfying?

Like the musicians who

fiddle through their lucky charms

before their performance

or

the heartpounding pep talk

before the great games

we have our preop chlorohexadine scrub

in the calm silence of the operating hall

These satisfying minutes of peace

and focus

a sort of rite of passage

and humble reminder

of who we are