So Where Were We?

It's been a week here, friends. I think I left off on Tuesday with a wrap-up letter to Douglas Stuart about Young Mungo. Several of you thought I should actually send it. Even though that wasn't my original intention, I figured "Why not?" He certainly couldn't object to a book group praising his books, so I sent it to his US contact at ICM Partners, asking her to forward the letter to Mr. Stuart. I did get an out-of-office reply saying that she was traveling and might be a bit slow in responding, but I will be sure and let you know here if I hear anything further.

My view for 6-7 hours on Tuesday. 

Early Tuesday morning, Justin called from work saying that he had hurt his back so badly that he couldn't drive home, and could we please pick him up and take him to the ER, which of course we did. John drove Justin's truck home and Justin and I continued on to the ER. It was an adventure. Only patients are allowed to enter the ER, so I waited outside in the sun and heat for six hours. Eventually, Justin got called into a room (called the "Fast Track" room - ha!) which I was allowed to go in. It was all a bit surreal - the automatic doors into the ER were broken so they had to bring me in some secret back way, there were signs all over saying "don't drink the water", the Code Blue button in Justin's room was broken and we were instructed to dial 444, but there was no phone in the room. At some point, it just became funny. He finally got an x-ray, which didn't show anything, and he was discharged after seven hours with three different pain meds. 

I guess I can wait for some water (there wasn't any available at the front lobby check-in,

  but they were sorry for the inconvenience).

Okay, I don't anticipate a code, and we can always dial 444.

Oops, no phone. 

Wednesday was my birthday and Ryan made me a lovely meal, which was exactly what I wanted. I got a call from the cardiologist saying that they needed me to come back for some more testing, so that happened Thursday morning. It was back at the same hospital we had been at on Tuesday, so I made sure not to drink the water. I have another appointment with the doctor on Monday morning to go over all the testing I've had and see what the next steps are. I would appreciate any good cardiac thoughts you might be able to send my way.

Just a pretty lily hiding in Ryan's hostas. 

I'm writing this on Thursday afternoon after meeting with our financial planner and hoping that all the crises have been dealt with this week. Our 401k has lost 25% of its value since John retired in February, so we had to do something to ensure it would last a little longer than just this year. Justin is feeling a little bit better each day, he has probably learned that he should not be rolling giant eight-foot sections of a tree into the backhoe bucket no matter how strong he thinks he is, my heart has not stopped yet, and our finances are (hopefully) a bit more secure. I just had a piece of the delicious chocolate cake Ryan made for me, but don't tell my cardiologist. I am learning that life may be short, so make sure you eat chocolate cake when you get the chance. 

I have high hopes for a calmer weekend, and I wish the same for you!