John became the filling of an emergency sandwich at the hospital. His scheduled catheterization was delayed because of an emergency, and his doctor couldn’t phone after his procedure because of yet another emergency. We didn’t hear anything until John woke up and called us himself.

I’m waiting to see if there will be any hospital stories. John has not spent a night in the hospital since he was five years old and had his tonsils removed. Can you imagine anyone being that inexperienced at age 73?

John was released the next afternoon. He looked about the same as usual except for his hospital jewelry – tape and gauze on one hand, white plastic bracelet above the other.

He talked of only one restriction. He wasn’t angry, but he certainly was disgruntled. He said, “It’s a death sentence! Decaf!!! I can have only four cups of caffeinated coffee a day.”