This is what Jillian, a nurse at St. Mary's Hospital, called James.
But lets start in the beginning. Wednesday Noember 26 ... it was also a Wednesday when 50 years ago James and I got married at City Hall in Manhattan. I know I should write a blog about that if our family after us will be interested about it at one point. 1975 was one gigantic adventure.
So, this year we went to the 10 am service which Fr Lee had named our churches one Thanksgiving service. There were not that many of our parishioners but we had a potluck meal afterwards and it was good fun. Friends Martha and Jerry came afterwards to the house and we popped a bottle of "Schloß Biebrich Sekt" to celebrate the Golden Wedding day. James and I felt blessed all our lives together but especially this day.
Thomas, another friend from church, came by later and James started feeling poorly. The short waves of dizziness happened again like months before and I was sure it was because he was dehydrated. We had not been good the last few days about water intake.
When I checked his blood pressure later we got a bad surprise. Way to high. Time to go to the ER. Sarah recommended St. Mary's. An Emergency Room is not very fancy but the nurses were so nice. James was cold and so was I and they brought us hot blankets when we needed them.
Sarah had to work all day at the old shop location and her husband and boys had already gone ahead to his parents for the Thanksgiving celebration on the next day. She offered to come but we were well taken care off and she needed some rest too. We expected her to follow her family the next morning in the second car.
Later in the night the ER people decided that it would take more work to get his bloodpressure under control and he was admitted. They found a room for him and I staid and tried to sleep in the chair.
Thursday. Thanksgiving Day. Sarah decided not to make that 3.5 hour drive (one way) but give us support. When she was there I went quickly home to get some things for James and have a quick shower. Late afternoon James saw a tiny rainbow in the sky which topped later with a lovely sundown.
Friday. James felt much better and so looked the readings on those machines he was attached to.
His "hospitalist" (hospital department doctor) was great. Concerned, attentive, caring. When he came after lunch James' vital numbers were good. The nurse had to take him for a walk which he enjoyed. He past the test.
And when she disconnected him from those machines, that's when she called him E.T. The glowing red fingertip (for H2O readings).
Friday evenening we were happy to be home. Grateful. And grateful to Sarah for the support. And of course we felt Helen's concern too. But all ended well. Saturday and Sunday I could tell that James felt much better than in a long time. I felt this all was confirmation that cancelling the trip had been the right decision. And as always we still have fun, talking, discussing, playing cards, doing certain jobs, etc etc.
I must say I preferred the excitement 50 years ago to the one this year.
