A Matter of Perspective

It seems just a wee bit ironic to visit the doctor and be told on one hand that you need an operation but on the other hand that you are in good health.

But that's what happened yesterday except, I suppose, that the operation is my choice but not much of a choice really.

The first confirmation of my good health occurred as I was filling out a 4 page health checklist survey. I kept ticking No: no heart issues, no high blood pressure, no diabetes, no issues with organs, no history of cancer, and so on and so forth.

It was Yes on the one line about arthritis. I'm not crippled or anything but just have more than most people in their early 70s. And Yes to hearing, which is a darn inconvenience, but it isn't life threatening. Those were pretty well my only Yes'es on almost 4 pages. Which ain't so bad.

I do have an issue with my foot, but that stems from an old injury, and once again, while it does tend to cause me to drag about like a decrepit centenarian, it's not quite the same as being on life support.

So, why was I there, and what's this operation about if I'm so doggone healthy?

Hernia. Or hernias, I should say.

I knew I had one which is why I was there, but I have two.

They can be repaired (knock on wood) in about an hour, give or take, and I can go home shortly thereafter. This is set to occur early in May.

We don't have a huge social network, but we hang out a bit with three couples, mainly meeting for the occasional coffee. In each case, one spouse is dealing with cancer. Sue and I look at each other when our physical problems get us down, as they are prone to do at times, and we remind ourselves that it isn't cancer. Not yet anyway.

We are healthy enough, all things considered.

Heckfire! "I haven't even had a cold or flu in several years," he said, while furiously knocking on wood.