Oh that George

You have to know your dad to really appreciate him. I say this knowing that I never can fully understand him, and that's probably exactly what he wants. As you know, we ended up in the hospital partly because of his stubbornness. Back injuries are nothing to sniff at. They're quite disabling and very disorienting.

At any rate, Dad started to improve once he got some pain meds and some food. Indeed, he'd been in bed for two days without eating anything, and that's enough to throw anyone into the ozone.

But today, the day he was to be released, he seemed a little slower than the day before. Perhaps a little more pain as the meds wore off. At any rate, just imagine who teams of doctors - medical and psychiatric - coming in and asking him the same questions over and over again. What day is it, who's the president ... stuff like that.

Well, your dad is not one to give anyone straight answers when a circuitous route is easier and more fun. He kind of lets his brain take him where it may - a stream of consciousness for everyone to experience. I had to stop him a couple of times when he went off into the "I've had a back problem since 1956!" Or "I did plenty of exercise for 46 years." arghhh.

The doctors were especially keen on his brief, albeit colorful, hallucinations. The rainbow spiders, which Lori D. has labeled as significantly symbolic of the gay movement. ;-)

Just when I'm about to tell them to give it a rest, George launches into a story about having an MRI at midnight the night before. He has been quite interested in his roommate's condition (a very heavy man with cancer, who apparently has no family), and he told the docs that the guy refused to have his MRI and so the technicians asked Dad if he wanted to take his place.

This is, well, highly unusual for a medical facility. But maybe not. The docs began looking knowingly at one another, kind of rolling their eyes and wink-winking. Oh sure, you have an MRI at midnight. Right. Nothing in the charts, though.

I was just about convinced myself, until about an hour later when the head doctor came in sheepishly to say, well Mr. H, you did indeed have an MRI at midnight last night. They'd just forgotten to chart it.

Well, that was nothing compared to Dad's next story about getting a flu shot that also wasn't charted. This time, they had to believe him. No one wants to get two flu shots in one day.

He did worry me a little when he focused on the clock and said he saw the second hand filling up, like a mercury thermometer. But we were way ready to get out of there, so off we went.

He's been pretty tired tonight, but we're getting back on track. Despite not wanting to eat dinner at first, he finally did. He's been walking around a little and we're set for The Big Program tomorrow. And he is really motivated to get up and going for Game Weekend! Of course.

Tomorrow would also be the day I have told Indrani's mom and dad that I'd take their new Alaskan Malamute, Tuva, for the day. I think you know that Indrani's mom had a bone marrow transplant, and they're just in need of a little help with the puppy.

Yes I know - that will be FIVE. I think I should start a business.