The longest day - part one

A recap of the day so far:

3:45 am  Day began in what should be (and IS) still considered the middle of the freaking night with the radio alarm going off to half classic rock-n-roll half static and the 4am wake-up call follow-up
Brain cells not operational ... as evidenced by the growing list thru the day of thing I maybe meant to bring to the hospital with me .. despite the giant set of bags accompanying us.


4:55 Nice driver from the hotel takes us to the hospital b/c it's just plain damn wrong to make the heart patient walk himself to the hospital pre-surgery! We did not get the potential police escort.
We're so early we beat the newspaper delivery trucks.


5:05  MLK leaves for the first time and round at pre-op and day of waiting begins for real. Very quiet in the hospital


5:30  JEB meets MLK in the pre-op prep area to get his gear and have our moments before we say our "see ya laters". He gives me his wedding ring and I'm wearing it on a chain  ("near my heart" ... awwwwww. Treacly sweet moment).  Says he was doing fine with his relaxation until I showed up and started babbling.
I'm thinking he wasn't quite joking ...
He wants me to learn to "just be"  in the present and in his presence. Ohhhmmmmm.  Gonna be tough but I'm trying.


6:00  We still talk.   Ok, mostly I babble. he hums and sings some and tries not to get bad tunes stuck in his head. I accidentally put them there anyway.  He says his new "happy word or place" may be "coffee".


6:20  We say our official "see ya laters" and kiss goodbye and off he goes to prep.
I manage not to cry. This is for the best. He's at the best place.  [Repeat to self many times all day until I finally believe]


6:40  Jen S my good good dear buddy since college arrives to keep me company and distract me. We go for my 2nd breakfast of day and to catch up and keep me occupied.


8:30  go back to family area where our families have commandeered a giant table


9:00  first surgery update - he's in the 'major portion of surgery'  -- guess he's cracked and ready.


Info session