The other side

Well, I made it to the other side of surgery. Everything went very well. All the staff were very professional. Thank you to all, particularly Lucia, Shamus, Alvin and Gabrielle.

What did I learn today?

1. The fastest way to get to Morton Plant hospital is to drive there at 4:20 AM.

2. Lucia shaved off most of my chest hair and Alvin finished the job. When I suggested to Alvin that I would not be able to work for a few weeks at my Chippendale job, he was not so sure. He may be right. Every woman that has seen me without chest hair since I got home, thinks it looks good.

3. There may be a bias among the female staff at the hospital. When the aide driving my bed down to anesthesia bumped into a few walls, Peggy told me that the problem was that it was a "man" bed.

4. The first port was installed in a human in 1981. This fact comes from my wonderful research assistant who doubles as my wife.

5. The fastest way home from Morton Plant is to have Suzanne drive you home by a new (for me) route. The reasons? Lead foot and the fastest route! Thanks, Suzanne.

6. You are not allowed to play tennis for about a week after getting a port. I will drop by the court from time to time and then try a new form of exercise. I think it is called walking.

Tomorrow is the meeting with the oncologist, Dr. Patel. Patel is a common name in India apparently. But did you know that the name Gill is also found among the population that lives in India. Maybe we are cousins.

Back to bed soon. So far, no painkillers required!