February 6, 2004
Kathy and I waited in the Heart Institute waiting room for two hours yesterday before we got in to see the specialist. When we finally got to talk to him here’s what I heard:

“A ruptured aneurysm requires immediate emergency treatment. Without surgery, the mortality rate is 100%.”

Of course, he said other things that were more positive and on the whole it wasn’t that bleak or negative, but it’s funny what sticks out for us. I found myself making all those deals with God we all vow when we’ve been caught red-handed: “Okay, I’m going to exercise, eat right, dedicate my life to helping the poor and disenfranchised.”

This lasted until we got in the car and Kathy asked me where I wanted to eat. “Let’s go to Taco Villa and have a bean burro enchilada style!”

I really do intend to help the poor some day.

“Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming—’Wow! What a ride!’”
—Old Vaquero Saying