One day, as I watched TV, I learned that the Egyptians did brain surgery. I have no idea idea how successful they were, but I guess some got so desperate that they didn’t care.

The thing is, many of the advanced surgical procedures did not become prevalent until well into the last half of the twentieth century. When I was 50, I had a stint put in my heart. In A world just 50 years earlier, I would have likely died, as one of the main arteries to my heart was 90% blocked.

To be truthful, I have definitely benefited from modern medicine. Most recently, about 12 or 14 years ago, I had 4 bypasses in one procedure. When I was in school, I remember news stories speaking of such procedures as being experimental. I am grateful that they had a few decades to refine their methods.

A little while ago, I talked to a man who had a bypass and he showed me his scar. I guess I should say lack of scar. I had to look hard to see it. Kind of makes me wish I could have put my surgery off for a while. My scar is still very easy to see.

Irregardless, one day, modern medicine will not be enough. I will die. It cannot be put off forever. However, when I had the stint installed, I had a heart attack. It was painful and it made me noxious. I was very scared. I thought it was over. I am sure there are those that would argue the point but I felt a presence right next to me. Maybe an angel, or maybe Jesus Himself. Suddenly I felt no fear. I knew right then that if it was my time, I knew I would be with Jesus.

Since that time, I have not ever felt the horrid fear of death as before. I would recommend everyone learn to spend some time with Jesus. The doctor that day fixed my heart. It was Jesus who treated my soul.

He can do that, you know, if you let him.2xx

Daily writing prompt

Have you ever had surgery? What for?

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I guess it is likely the biggest advantage of being a multi-millionaire. Can you imagine Elon Musk waiting in line for a hair cut. How many seconds do you suppose Bill Gates has to wait for anything? I probably spent more time waiting for stuff when I was in boot camp than all the Kennedys together in all their lives. I wonder if any of Rockefeller’s children ever had to wait for a school bus.

The other day, coming home from dinner, I waited on a road close to half an hour to get through one traffic light. That’s right, we have traffic jams in Desoto County, almost daily. It’s all those folks in Memphis coming down here, “forgetting” to signal a lane change as the force their way into another lane. Believe me. We have experienced them enough to know to expect them, especially on Goodman Road near I-55.

When I first moved down here, Goodman was 2 lanes, one each way. Now the bridge going over I-55 has 7 lanes and it’s still not enough. Hence, those of us who mush cross I-55 know what it means to wait.

I suppose those who go through drive-throughs know about waiting too. I wouldn’t know. I refuse to use them. Nonetheless, McDonald’s has taught me a thing or two about waiting. It used to be that when they saw me coming, they made me wait intentionally. They don’t do that anymore. I don’t go there. I go to places like Abbay’s where they have my hot food ready for me before I can get my drinks from the fountain.

I don’t waste much time waiting in gas stations anymore. I filled my gas powered car twice in six months since I got my electric car. As near as I can tell, I pay about the same for the electric. I can remember the lines in California in the 70’s when the Arabs decided to shut things down on us for a while. Gas went from thirty cents a gallon to eighty in a few weeks. That was when you could find it. Wasted a lot of time waiting in line for an open gas pump back then and I was not the only one.

Then, of course the really neat part about that, they post the sign “Out of Gas,” when I’m next in line. Then, of course, I had to find another line to wait in and hope and pray the gas lasts until I get my share of gas before I run out.

Somehow, I don’t think the millionaires had to wait for gas. I really don’t think they had to look for it either. If they did have to wait a time or two, the problem would have been fixed immediately, if not sooner.

The thing is, most of us from the time we start school learn how to wait in some way, shape or other. Well, most of us learn. When you get out on the road around here, you can quickly pick out those who have learned and those who haven’t.

Daily writing prompt

How do you waste the most time every day?

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Well, maybe Israel. How-some-ever, I’ve been to Vietnam, Japan, Korea, and Australia. Australia is kind of nice, but I need not go back to any of them. I certainly don’t have any reason to go where they drive on the wrong side of the street. I did that in Osaka, Japan and it scared the daylights out of me. Moreover, not a fan of flying these days. If I can’t drive there in a reasonable time, I have no reason that important to be there. Certainly not until they start putting the priority back on safety rather than diversity.

Daily writing prompt

What countries do you want to visit?

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Unfortunately, that didn’t happen. Guess we don’t always get what what we want.

Daily writing prompt

How do you want to retire?

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I was being good. I got up early to cut the grass. Okay, I about had to. The grass was getting high as well as the temperature. I did not want to have to cut it in the afternoon or at night. Too hot in afternoons. Too dark at night.

At any rate, I was almost ready as I just put my second shoe on. Suddenly I felt a little sting behind my knee. I didn’t think much of it and rubbed at it. It got to really hurting bad and I pulled my cuff up.

I had heard of those brown recluse spiders and how bad their bites hurt so bad so quickly. I began wondering if I was gonna need to pay a visit to the E-room. Those brown recluses are sometimes deadly.

Then I heard a buzzing, looked up, and saw something darting around near the ceiling. As my focus zeroed in, I realized I was just stung by a wasp.

Well, I guess I was relieved. It wasn’t the dreaded recluse, but it still hurt, badly. As said in the title, not fun.

I put some ice on it, but mind you, that sun was warming things up and that grass is growing so fast you can see it. Do I remove the ice and mow the grass or do I sit there and ice my painful wound.

Well, the lawn won. I was a marine. I can take the little pain of a wasp. Now the complaints and scornful looks of neighbors?

On a side note, I outlasted the mower’s battery this morning. I guess after 4 or 5 years, it’s time to replace the battery as the charge lasts half as long as new. Then again I just might get one more season out of it.

As I mentioned before, my wife has said I think too much. I guess most would leave it all there. Me. I must think about it. I must ask questions to which there will never be any answers.

How in the world did that mini monster get in the house?

By the way, I was wearing long trousers. How did that thing manage to sneak up the inside of my pant leg without me realizing it?

Daily writing prompt

What notable things happened today?

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Winter is too cold. Summer is too hot. Fall and spring are just right but the pollen drives me nuts. I chose the wrong part of the country for me to settle in, given my extreme allergies to just about all forms of pollen. I am so grateful to the scientist for developing those antihistamines. Without them I would have to start living on ships.

On the other hand, summer brings swimming and baseball. Fall brings a lot of colorful leaves and the snap of the crisp cold evenings. With winter, I need not fight flies and mosquitos. Spring brings the flowers and the chirping birds.

Now with all that, how in the world am I to make up my mind?

One thing I will say, whatever season is next, I’m always looking forward to it.

Daily writing prompt

What is your favorite season of year? Why?

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I was in the Marines. There were times I gave up virtually all luxuries, even sleep. Moreover, I am sure there were many who lived in worse conditions than me.

Daily writing prompt

What’s the one luxury you can’t live without?

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However, so very few do. First, common sense. Second, courage. Third honesty. Finally, and most importantly, a good sense of humor. Sometimes, it helps to be able to laugh when the world starts falling down around you. Otherwise, it just might drive a person to madness.

Some might call it madness to laugh in the face of adversity. Then again, we are all entitled to an opinion. Personally, I consider a coping mechanism and I try to use it regularly.

Daily writing prompt

What are the most important things needed to live a good life?

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