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Thank you.

While trying to go about as if I could walk, I stopped at a thrift store run by a local church. I’m forcing myself to do as much walking as possible. I’ve been in that store a dozen times and other than a “good morning” or “how are you doing” I’ve had little interaction from the clerks. I had to haul myself up the stairs using the railing. I walked around inside, balancing occasionally on furniture or the wall. As I delicately made my way back down the stairs while gripping the railing, a young woman ran outside and said, “Sir! Can I pray for you?” I said, “Why thank you.” She grabbed my hands and launched into a heart-rending appeal for my health. We said, “amen” and I thanked her.

Later as I was picking up prescriptions a man passed me and said, “You, okay?” I wasn’t walking. I was leaning against the wall waiting my turn. I said, “pretty much, why?” He said, “You look like death warmed over.” Then he thought about it and added, “I’m sorry.” “No, you’re absolutely correct. Fortunately, I’ve been warmed to 98.6”

Later, I told this to my buddy, and he said, “I wasn’t going to say anything, but I’ve seen dead people who looked better.” Adding, “Of course, they were probably wearing makeup.”

Having met with my GP yesterday he said, “Looking at the record, you barely made it. Looks like the blow-over on the filter was five or six inches.” (Turns out surgery “first thing in the morning” was 1pm.)