Wednesday, January 15, 2014

Birthday Boy

I wrote my column this week in the cafeteria at the clinic where Jilda started her third year of treatments.
My columns are often laced with bits of humor, but this one was more somber. A meeting with my financial planner this past week gave me the idea when he began asking me "the hard questions."
I won't say much about the column here but the title is "What If." I'll  post it on Monday once it runs in the paper on Sunday.
Today is my birthday, and I've spent a lot of time this evening fielding phone calls and a bunch of birthday wishes on Facebook.......I know, I said more Facetime and less Facebook, but that will have to wait until next week :)
At the moment, I am whupped. There's nothing like spending the day at a hospital to suck the vitality out of you.


17 comments:

  1. Happy Birthday Rick... I'm sure things will get better... but yes you are right any day at the hospital would be exhausting... I have spent a lot of my life in one :-/

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  2. There's nothing like spending the day at a hospital to suck the vitality out of you.

    TRUE DAT!

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  3. Anonymous9:20 PM

    I agree about hospitals. Happy 21st birthday, or multiple thereof!!

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  4. Happy Birthday. I understand...we've spent lots of time the last few years at hospitals, as well.

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  5. Happy Birthday and many more.
    A thought for you maybe an exhausting day but ..... what if ...... there were no hospitals.

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  6. Happy Birthday! Do what my husband does...have a birthday month! That way if today wasn't all you expected for a birthday, you have a whole month of days to celebrate!

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  7. Happy Birthday! Not the best place to spend the day, but supporting Jilda means so much. Hospitals do have a crazy energy about them. All the emotions from everyone, patients and care givers, has to go someplace...sucking the energy from you is a good way to describe it. I feel it everyday I walk through the exit at the end of my shift! I'll look forward to the column!

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  8. Happy birthday! Odd that hospitals, which have such a positive purpose, can be so depressing; I know exactly what you mean.

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  9. There are some real nice people at the hospital, including you and Jilda and many more like the care giver. It's not all that bad. I hope you get some birthday cake before the week is done.
    Happy Birthday again.
    JB

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  10. Happy Day. I'm sorry that you and Jilda are spending so much time at the hospital. It really does suck you dry! Thank God for the caring people who work at hospitals ~ and thank God for caregivers like you! Sending positive thoughts your way!

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  11. Happy Birthday Rick.
    Hospitals are not my favorite places to be either but you do meet great people there who are strong spirited and ready to laugh.
    Laughter is the best medicine as they say.
    Hope Jilda is feeling better.

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  12. A Happy Birthday to you and prayers for Jilda.

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  13. What if's can cut both ways.
    Happy birthday.

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  14. I do hope you had a good birthday, and that Jilda's treatment went well.
    I am sending loads of positive thoughts your way! :)

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  15. The "what ifs" and the "hard questions" take the wind out of all who have been given those statements. Be strong, celebrate every single day, eat birthday cake every chance you get. In moderation, of course.

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  16. You made me think of all the days, nights, weekends I spent at hospitals with Rich over the years. I got to know doctors and nurses by name and they me. It most definitely sucks the energy out of you. I hope you had a good birthday the day after !!

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