Greetings from suburban Newnan! (Newnan, she says? But isn’t The Citizen in Fayetteville?)
You are, of course, right, but thanks to my wonderful boss, I am now working entirely from home, which solves a whole bunch of problems. I am blessedly thankful for this change. Back in 1988, I moved from my little cottage in Tyrone to a more spacious home (with room for my dogs) about halfway between Peachtree City and Newnan. I have never regretted it. But, that’s when the problems started. I found out a few years later that I was a genetic time bomb of medical problems, all inherited from my ancestors. (You can start playing the violin now.)
In 1992, I had my first heart attack, not a really bad one, but I lost an artery and have been kicking on three cylinders ever since. Thank you, maternal and paternal grandfathers.
In 1993, I somehow contracted spinal meningitis, the flu, and pneumonia all at the same time. When they found me and got me to the hospital, my temp was 106 and they gave me until midnight to live if the fever didn’t break.
It did and I survived with grateful thanks to Dr. Crosby.
Things went along fine with only a minor gall bladder incident (thank you, Dr. Craddock for the surgery), until 2006 when I had another small heart attack. No big deal. They would send me to big Piedmont, put in a stent, and I would be back at work in two days. Fate did not cooperate. While I was at Newnan Hospital, I had the big one, was rushed to big Piedmont, and had quadruple bypass surgery.
No biggie. In four weeks, I was working out at the gym three days a week and feeling great.
Then the final blow came. In 2007, I was diagnosed with breast cancer (my dad and my grandmother both died with cancer) but there was a bright side. If I opted for radical surgery I would require no further treatment. Sounded like a plan to me.
I never quite came back from that surgery, though. The heart continued to deteriorate and I am now facing a few more years with congestive heart failure, bad knees, and an oxygen tank as my best friend.
That’s why working at home fits the bill perfectly. I am thankful that the brain still works even if the body doesn’t and I look forward to spending a few more years as your religion editor. I am most thankful for modern technology.
Even in the bleakest of times I guess we can all find something to be thankful for.
