It wasn't until Monday afternoon that I opened the email letting me know a dear friend had undergone surgery that very morning for life-threatening heart problems. Because of the holiday and busy weekend, I hadn't checked my email for several days...it took me awhile to weed through the crap that had accumulated in my inbox.
Bob (or "BV" as he signs his letters...he calls me "BS") was my teacher for two years in high school. I was on the yearbook staff and he was the teacher/sponsor/Editor-in-Chief. He is sharp-tongued, sarcastic, has a quirky sense of humor and can be brutally honest. That was tough for some students to take, but he and I clicked and have remained friends all these years, because he's also very loyal, generous, and loving. We've butted heads a few times during the years, but cared enough about each other to work things out.
His son sent the email letting me know their holidays were spent by his side in the hospital while he waited for his surgery -"Bob's adventure", he called it. His wife sent an update Monday evening...he had a triple bypass, a valve replacement and received a pacemaker (I can hear Bob now..."A three for one special!") But his heart was more damaged than they thought - they inserted a balloon pump to let it rest for a few days and repair itself.
I've had no more updates...I'm hoping no news is good news. So for now, I'm just praying. Please join me.
Representatives of The Deer in Denton, Texas on an icy cold December day in 1976 for a yearbook convention - Mike, Kim, Gina, Mary, Brenda, Bob, George and David (I was the amateur photographer even back then!)