I just thought I'd share some good news with the group. My father just called. He's 87 and in Methodist Hospital in Houston. You may remember him from my descriptions of the old fighter pilot and his memoirs on here before.
He got his atrial valve replaced a little less than a week ago. Today he got his internal pacemaker, and is sounding pretty chipper. He should be going home tomorrow or the next day. The old valve was calcified and down to less than 1/2 cm squared open according to the doc. Otherwise, he's in good health with no blockages in arteries, clear lungs, not diabetes, etc. He had been getting pretty slow and winded easily, although he still chugged up several flights of stairs the day before he went in. Most of us "kids" were renting beach houses on Galveston Island last week, so he came down for a visit before going to the hospital.
Dad's a tough old bird. I expect he'll be doing his calisthenics in the morning again once he heals up.
Regards,
Pete Keillor
PS. My youngest son is halfway through MCRD San Diego. He appears to be doing well, and even says "the cheese stuff in the MRE's is pretty tasty spread on bread". And "I'm going to eat myself into a coma when you cook the fajita dinner when I get home".
PSS. I promise my next post will be on topic. I've just been a little preoccupied lately.