Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Patient.


Later today we shall be heading home on the break of day flight. The PONs will be picked up from the kennels in time for a family dinner. 'The Font' has spent much of the last week monitoring Angus from a sofa in a hospital room and returning to a hotel during the day to catch up on sleep. The nursing staff have been unfailingly patient. Although the hospital is in an old building neither of us have ever seen a place with floors polished to such a high sheen. A team of happy floor polishers beaver away all day ... and much of the night. 

The anaesthetist says that her sedative is like the sweetest champagne which ( according to 'The Font' ) proves she is an excellent judge of character. The surgeon, who comes highly recommended, is a man of equally breezy disposition who tells this patient ' A quick rummage round and we'll have you as right as rain in no time '.  Angus can't help but think that this is the sort of thing a mechanic might say to the owner of one of those 90's era Volvo station wagons much loved by retired Berkeley faculty. The surgeon wears a suit and one of those padded sleeveless hunting, shooting and fishing jerkins . He is, I would surmise, a man who only deals in certainties.

There are two televisions in the room. Why this should be so is something of a mystery. All the channels have been pre-selected to be cheerful and mindless. Angus survives on a diet of uplifting light entertainment. Mike and Molly, Two and a Half Men, Everybody Loves Raymond, The Goldbergs and Third Rock from the Sun. Discharge cannot come too quickly.

A book that is highly recommended. A Dog Anthology. A perfect accompaniment for a patient on synthetic opioids. Read while other weightier tomes have not been touched. An interesting collection of vignettes includes a memorable but disturbing poem by a Polish poet Wislawa Szymborska . An insight into Polands history - and a reminder that in 1945 there were a mere handful of Polish Lowland Sheepdogs left. A vicar writes an uplifting little piece that points out that there's more to life than heaven. At the end of time God remakes all Creation - a time when dogs come into their own as fully loving and loved. This little essay alone a good enough reason for buying the book. For dog owners a charming and kind and thoughtful - and adult - addition to their book shelves.



20 comments:

Yamini MacLean said...

Hari OM
this is your 'pre-home' welcome comment. Glad the 'rummage' has been, and done, and brought you back to us. Your readers miss you almost as much as the PONs... YAM xx

Poppy Q said...

Glad to hear that you are on the mend and on your way home to the Pons. I think that this will be their best day ever ever.

Allison said...

Glad you are returning to us, your readers. I have missed the daily reporting on the PONS.

~Kim at Golden Pines~ said...

I hope all is well on your return home and that you can get what I'm sure is continued needed rest. All the best continuing to come to you from my corner of the US. And by the way, I'm disappointed in the choice of TV programs. No televised impeachment hearing?

Camille said...

Goodness, how we've missed you. Not completely delighted on the vague "rummage around" concept but delighted at the potential "right as rain" outcome. All the very best to you, the Font and those two gud dugs. X

Cheryl Pass said...

Sounds like the perfect book to heal the dog lover's body and soul! I know the dynamic duo will be ever so glad to see you! That will be definitely the best day ever!

Lisa in Tokyo said...

I'm glad to know you are on your way home and that you have somehow managed to maintain your sense of humor.

WFT Nobby said...

Welcome back Angus. So good to hear from you. I guess one wouldn't get far as an indecisive surgeon. And I hope you'll be back to the slightly less anaesthetic variety of champagne soon.
The dog book is now on my reading list.
Cheers, Gail.

Taste of France said...

Glad you're on the mend. The hospital staff have a colorful way with language. The PONs will be thrilled to be reunited. We've all missed you.

Susan said...

Bon rétablissement !

Pam in NH said...

Well now, this is the best news ever! Who knew that guardian angels reside on sofas?
Home will heal you the best and quickest way possible. Sending kisses to the PONS.XXXX

Susan said...

So glad you are heading home and agree with the above - this will be the best day ever for the PON's!!

liparifam said...

Whew! What a relief that it's over and you are headed home. Life in the ROF will be back to normal(?) in no time :)

Sheila said...

The PONS have endured too much kennel time lately with two stays in quick succession. No doubt they'll be doubly elated to return to life's routine at the ROF. And your many fans are just as thrilled to have you back. No Wi-fi at the hospital I gather.

sillygirl said...

Yippee! This IS the best day ever - to see you leaving a message for us again!

10NISNE1 said...

Happy to read you are heading home! Bob and Sophie will be over the moon!

Coppa's girl said...

So glad that you are on the mend Angus, and congratulations to 'The Font' for such excellent sofa-side care.
We'd all like to be around when the PONs are finally reunited with you. Is there anything better than a best day ever? If there is that will surely be it!

Bailey Bob Southern Dog said...

I am squealing with joy at seeing your blog today! May you and The Font have safe travels home to the ROF. Bob is soon to round up his flock, and Sophie will, um well, it will be a surprise! ! !

opakowana said...

So good to see (read) you heading home. Hope rummaging about was just that. So glad we're back to the daily portions of Angus, "The Font" and the PONs. Take it easy. and read more Szymborska (there is a volume of her poems in Polish and English). I read one of her poems (my translation) at our daughter's wedding. And how about the latest Literature Nobel Prize winner - Olga Tokarczuk; as different literature as a PON from a chihuahua.

marci said...

Great to see you on the mend! The PON's will be so delighted! I also love the anthology! And hospitals in the US could learn from the polishing, sad to say. And I work in one! Welcome back!