By Jim Hagarty
I went to the doctor yesterday.
He checked me over and pronounced me to be in pretty good shape. I left his office feeling 10 years younger.
But I have had a sore hip, which I didn’t mention to him. Funny, as I have mentioned it to the last 100 people I have met. That and a few other random pains make me a bit miserable on occasion.
One of those occasions was today as I hobbled to a food court in a mall to have a muffin and orange juice while my car was being serviced. I saw an old friend there, someone I hadn’t seen in a long time. So I went and sat down next to him.
After the usual catching up, I asked him how his health was, knowing he’d had some problems.
“Well,” he started, “I am diabetic. And I have had a triple bypass. As well as a stroke. And four heart attacks.”
“Oh my God,” I replied. “That’s terrible.”
“Ya,” he answered. “Tell me about it. I died twice.”
“WHAT??” I asked, my jaw dropping open.
“Oh, and I have no gall bladder.” I could hardly believe my ears. And then he added, half laughing, “I probably won’t be around much longer.”
But here’s the funny thing. He was sitting with his wife and another woman. The three of them were all joking and laughing. Then another man joined them and the party really got started. They laughed and teased each other like teenagers.
I got up to leave, and put out my hand, wondering if I’d see my old friend again. He shook my hand and smiled, “Say hi to your Higher Power for me.”
You know, I just might do that.
As I walked away, I could hear them all laughing over something silly. They were all remarking on how much one of the women resembled Queen Elizabeth. She was loving every minute of it.
As I was leaving, I noticed my hip wasn’t hurting any more.
My heart – maybe a bit.
