#156 Thoughts at the surgery clinic

The rotator cuff repair had been suggested last February--but he needed his arm to close out his architectural practice. So this morning at 6 a.m. we arrived at the orthopedic clinic. He actually chose Dec. 23 because he figured it would be a good week to watch football!

Random thoughts at the clinic:

His heart rate goes up 5 points when I take his hand.
Normally a very quiet guy, he uses an entire day's quota of words in the 10 minutes after he receives the block.
My Starbucks cup has the "hot" warning in French, not Spanish.
There's a broken spot in the new tile floor--underlayment is uneven.
The attendant's name is "Angel."
The trendy decorator colors--purple, burgandy, rust, moss green, dark yellow ochre and aqua are the same we picked for the new veterinary library before I retired in 2000.
His chart says he is 157 lbs., 5'9". I need to lose weight.
His right shoulder is marked with ink, and he is asked 3 different times which shoulder will be repaired. It's good to be sure, I suppose.
In the waiting room, a young female patient arrives with her husband, her mother, her aunt, her sister and her grandmother. Maybe this is their Christmas?
The lobby is decorated in retro-50s blonde furniture with wide flaring arms--looks like a 1949 ad in a woman's magazine.
There are 3 television sets; 3 books on the shelves. A sign of the times?
At 9 a.m. they call me to recovery. He is eating ice chips and smiling.
We are home by 10:30.

Tomorrow the pain.