Just got word from the surgeon that everything is going well. We should hear soon where they will move him post-surgery and we will be able to visit him at that point. My mom and I are set up in a palatial waiting room with the view you see above. After a small snafu where the staff all thought our last name was Greco, they've all been very conscientious. Meanwhile, my mom and I have been trying to speculate on how the Grecos would react to today's events.

Here's Mr. Sunshine! All dolled up and ready for surgery. We just saw them roll him down the hall to the surgery room and we met all of his nurses, anesthesiologists, anesthesiologist nurses, doctors and technicians. They all assured us that they'd take good care of him. Keep leaving your comments. They'll strengthen him in his recovery.

It's your guest blogger, Hillary, here from the Duke University Hospital surgical waiting room. They just wheeled my dad into pre-op and we'll get to see him one more time before his surgery. Things seem to be running right on schedule and I'll be supplying more updates throughout the day. Thank you for all your thoughts and general good energy sent in my dad's direction. He's strong and happy this morning and making everyone laugh. He's really an inspiration.

All set and marked up for the surgery. I am scheduled for 12:30 pm. Don't look for any updates until late afternoon or even evening. There is another patient scheduled ahead of me.

Hillary will post the update.

God Bless, Peter

Having gone through admission and a pre-op visit with Dr. Friedman, I am all set. The nurse just applied my I-V and the neuro- resident doctor marked me for surgery.

Currently, I am scheduled second for tomorrow, which will be around 12:30. Dr. Friedman said he would be warmed up by then.

Daughter Hillary will update the blog as soon as possible. I will be moved to ICU and undetermined locations over the next couple days, consequently it is discouraged to contact via room phones.

I am relaxed and view this operation as the right procedure.

God Bless,

Peter

Forgive me if I am a bit emotional this morning, but it started with getting this painting from Penn my next door 4 year old. The well wishes are keep coming and based on them the operation will be a breeze. You have filled my inbox with so much positive energy that currently I am sitting on a cloud elevated by your sentiments.

Thank you and God Bless,

Peter

I had gone to the Republic Salon for my usual haircut with Lyric when Alyssa one of the owners reared up to her full foot height and declared that today's treatment was gratis. She proceeded to tell me about her aunt who had tortured them with a brain tumor, because she waited 8 months before having it removed.

Thank you Alyssa and Lyric

Friend Martha sent me this Thomas Hardy poem after reading about my Jonathan Seagull encounter.

Thank you so much, Martha as well as Damon for the scripture. I enjoyed both very much.


THE DARKLING THRUSH

By Thomas Hardy



I leant upon a coppice gate
When Frost was spectre-grey,
And Winter's dregs made desolate
The weakening eye of day.
The tangled bine-stems scored the sky
Like strings of broken lyres,
And all mankind that haunted nigh
Had sought their household fires.


The land's sharp features seemed to be
The Century's corpse outleant,
His crypt the cloudy canopy,
The wind his death-lament.
The ancient pulse of germ and birth
Was shrunken hard and dry,
And every spirit upon earth
Seemed fervourless as I.


At once a voice arose among
The bleak twigs overhead
In a full-hearted evensong
Of joy illimited;
An aged thrush, frail, gaunt, and small,
In blast-beruffled plume,
Had chosen thus to fling his soul
Upon the growing gloom.


So little cause for carolings
Of such ecstatic sound
Was written on terrestrial things
Afar or nigh around,
That I could think there trembled through
His happy good-night air
Some blessed Hope, whereof he knew
And I was unaware.

Experienced a wonderful dawn... Night sky presented Venus aligned with an almost New Moon and in between was Saturn...another present?...the tide flowing in 3 foot waves...the silhouette of a shapely jogger...
Yes, Travis the days at the beach has recharged my spirits. Time to move on, though!

I just wandered the beach this afternoon when I noticed Jonathan seagull himself made an appareance. It seemed he had found something shiny and kept hopping around me excitedly. He kept dropping this object and then picking it up, giving him this costume jewelry look.
Finally, he dropped it near my toes and with a long stare he flew off.

Carol thinks it is a great omen and I have a little worry stone to rub.
What do you think?