Enough, Already!

On Sunday, December 2, 2007, I took my last antibiotics for the pneumonia I had contracted two weeks before. I was still quite tired and ready for some relief. But that was not to be.

On Monday, my wife wasn't feeling well so she slept late and dozed most of the day. Just after dark, I woke her up and was hugging her when I realized she was very warm. In fact, I learned that her temperature was 103. I tried to help her get up off the day bed, but she was unable to stand on her own. Because of our recent snow, I decided not to drive her to St. Frances Regional Medical Center, as I'm not accustomed to driving in Minnesota during winter weather. I called 911. Quickly the police and EMTs were here, and they confirmed her fever. She had to literally be lifted onto the wheeled carrier.

Even though I didn't even consider driving with her in the car, I felt confident enough to follow the ambulance to the hospital I had been in when I had pneumonia in November 2006. I know it's called the emergency room, but I've never been in one yet where the doctors and nurses moved as if there were an emergency. She, too, had pneumonia and is warmly ensconced in the the hospital as I write this on Tuesday night. I just talked to her on the phone, and she sounds profoundly exhausted. As I've said before in several postings, good health hasn't been our strength the last two years.

After my wife was tucked in for the night, I headed out to my car, having to walk through about a foot of snow, but when I got to the car, I couldn't find my keys. I can't tell you how frustrated I felt. The temperature was below 10 degrees, the wind was blowing, and I just wanted to cry. I assumed I had somehow locked my keys in the car, and I just wanted to cry. I returned to the ER waiting room, picked up the local yellow pages, and called a locksmith who agreed to come out within a half-hour. I learned, to my further frustration, that he didn't take credit cards and would need $75.00. Though I had no cash, I told him to come out anyway. I guess I thought a miracle would occur.

As I looked up, the man, a complete stranger who had been listening to my end of the conversation two seats down from me reached into his front pocket and pulled out $100 in twenties. He handed me 4 of the twenties, $80.00. For once, I was speechless. As we completed the exchange, a young woman walked up behind me and asked, "Are these your keys?" They were, and I quickly called the locksmith back to tell him not to come. He sounded almost as relieved as I was because it was truly cold. I thanked the young woman, turned and handed the money back to my benefactor and told him that I couldn't thank him enough. He just said that we just have to help other people sometime. I thanked him again, shook his hand, and told him that I would pass it along. And I will. It wasn't a miracle, but it was close enough for me.