Notes from all over by GDA

3-4-10

I always thought that I was indestructible. Nothing could put me down. I had never been in a hospital except for tonsils. This Norwegian just couldn't be put down.
Then it happened. After playing three games of racquetball on a Saturday with my doctor, Harold Johnston, I felt good and went home. Then I started to get sick and on Monday I went in to the Cook ER where Dr. Johnston immediately sent me to St. Mary's. The people there were awesome. I had five doctors working on me and all kinds of nurses.
Anyway, I had two stents put in and an operation on my foot. I feel 100 percent better, but I have a cast on my foot and this is slowing me down.
It is something else to be in the hospital. You are under their care and you can't do anything.
I will have a column on this whole episode in the future, though. We are very lucky to have the medical facilities that we have. I wonder how many lives, besides mine, they have saved. Thank God for them, every day.
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While being laid up in bed, I had a lot of chances to watch the Winter Olympics from Vancouver. I first started out cheering for the United States in everything, but it didn't take long for me to start cheering for the individual athletes. The most stirring moment was when the Canadian figure skater, whose mother had just died, skated. She brought a lump to my throat.
Politics was forgotten during this truly international event.
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One thing that happened to me while under the care of the doctors and nurses is I didn't keep up on politics. I am not sure what boo-boos Obama has done. I don't know what the Legislature is messing up now that they are in session. I understand that Gov. Pawlenty is shooting down their bonding bill. Things are normal in St. Paul.
After reading some letters to the editor, it appears that the $78.8 million ISD 2142 building program is still under fire. It would seem that things are getting a little nasty.
I hope everyone realizes that the basic goal of this whole education mess is the kids and their education.
Don't forget that.
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Thanks to all for the calls, cards, flowers, balloons and visits. They really meant a lot.
Have a good week.