Never Rains But it Pours

Actually not talking about the weather--which has been pleasantly dry, if rather cold.

Getting ready for this big Halloween Party I am co-chairing on Saturday. I can't wait to have a paying job again. This volunteer stuff is exhausting.

So, trying to get all the stuff together and get a message from my friend Joy that her husband is about to have surgery. Ron has had a sore throat for 2 weeks that morphed into ear, head and neck pain. Turns out something is actually stuck in his throat that is causing the infection. Took three trips to a GP and a visit to an ENT to figure that out.

What began as a fairly non-invasive procedure ended up being major surgery that took about 3 hours. There was a little sliver of something no bigger than a hair lodged in his throat and causing this huge infection. The doctor said it was very lucky that they were even able to locate it, it was so small. Really bizarre that something so seemingly insignificant could cause so much damage!

While all this is happening, Joy's neighbor Mary has their four kids and I'm waiting with Joy in this swank hospital room in Duisburg, reserved for private pay patients. Germany has socialized medicine, but being here has not sold me on the concept. The people with money (and private health insurance) still get the better deal. You should see this hospital room. Complete with a robe and slippers, a mini-fridge stocked with water and juice and a collection of herbal scented toiletries in a raffia-tied bag. Good thing for Ron, because he's likely to be there for at least a week. In Germany, they don't send you home as soon as they can. They wait until you're well. Interesting concept, huh?

Now I just have to find someone else with a van to help move the Plinko board out of storage. Joy will be taking hers to the hospital to be there when they take the tube out of her husband's throat. If only she were more committed to Halloween!