Things You Think About in the Hospital

I can’t help myself. The keyboard calls…

Last night, I spent the night in a hospital. It’s the first time I’d been in one of those because I was the one who required that kind of medical attention. Mercifully, even when admitted, I was the kind of patient who may or may not have REALLY needed to be there. But, if you had something spreading in your body that looked like what I had spreading in mine, you might have made the same decision I made. In the end, I am certain that I did the right thing. I use as evidence the fact that I am sitting at a computer in my own hope typing these words.

I can’t sit here long because my arm starts to feel warm and “not right” pretty quickly. I don’t think hacking away at the keys was what the doctor had in mind when he told me to keep my arm elevated and rested. Still, I felt compelled to sit down and write. A lot of things go through your mind when you’re sitting in a hospital bed alone. I’ll have to jot down some ideas so that I don’t forget some of the things about which I thought I should write. Maybe later…

More than anything, I just want to express my gratitude to the Universe and its many agents. You know who you are, and I love you all for doing your part. Without you, I am quite certain that I would have spent another night in that bed. I felt you with me last night, literally. I was enveloped in the warmth of your comfort and love. And your very, very hard work. I owe you.

I am grateful that I am home. I am grateful that I got to pick up my kids after school. I am grateful that we had dinner together tonight, preserving our Friday “Family Night” tradition. I am grateful that we all cuddled closely on the couch and watched “Ace of Cakes.” I am grateful that I put both of my boys to bed tonight. I am grateful that my wife is waiting patiently for me, allowing me to satisfy my desire to write. I better not push it. Before I know it, she’ll come barging in here, insisting I get straight to bed like the doctor ordered.

Doctor’s orders.

Fortunately, doc, nobody will be coming in to take my blood pressure in the middle of the night. Nope; not tonight. It might be my little guy exercising his right to make a midnight visit, but…you know what?…nothing would make me happier. I’ll gladly live with that “burden.”