Hello, dear friends and colleagues -- I'm home

[5thGenDemocrat]

With a new stent in my right coronary artery and a to-do list that looks like it was written by Dr. Tolstoy. I haven't had a cigarette in a little over 62 hours and don't intend to fire another one up, ever ever again.
I haven't heard what the bill is going to be, but the last time I did this (in 1999), the tab came to $42,000. I'm sure, with inflation and the follow-up camera work two years ago, the total is into six digits by now.
The scariest part of this whole thing was when the surgeon told me I had ten years left to live. I have no idea whether he meant "unless I clean my act up" or "regardless."
At 48, contemplating one's own shuffling off this mortal coil is a sobering thought, especially when I realize I've done a lot of it to myself (mom died at 63 of a bad ticker and dad died during a botched operation at 59 -- but I've still blithely smoked and drank and burned weed and ate fatty swill and -- well, you get the idea).
But, just this moment, I do feel a lot better physically than I did, say, last Sunday night. And, interestingly enough, I don't miss the cigarettes (but that might just be the fact that I am, finally, highly motivated to walk away from them).
I'm glad I have you guys. I hope you're glad you have me, too.
I'll be here all afternoon. Ask me anything.
John
And thanks for all the comments over there on Polly's thread.

[MissB]

1. Glad to hear you're on your way to recovering

and I hope that you live far more than another decade.

[5thGenDemocrat]

3. I feel great

And I'll do what I can to stretch my mortal existance out as much as I can. Nothing like stabbing chest pains to put everything else into perspective.
John
Thank you for the nice comments.

[progmom]

2. nice to see you here

:hug:

i'm really glad we have you too...

[5thGenDemocrat]

5. I'm glad I have you all, too

Sure puts our little food fight into context, eh?
John
Wondering why GWB has health care coverage and I don't.

[progmom]

13. did we have a food fight?

[5thGenDemocrat]

15. No, not us

I refer to this place generically as a food fight.
John
Jokes lose their humor when you have to explain them.

[progmom]

16. oh...yes.

:hug:

[Rising Phoenix]

4. glad to here you are doing well...

take care of yourself

[5thGenDemocrat]

7. It turns out I treat chest pains like most folks treat toothaches

Wait 'em out and hope they go away. They don't, as it so happens.
John
Not without a roto-rooting, anyhow.

[SoCalDem]

6. You've got that "Johnmentum" going for ya..

I'm so glad you are feeling well, and on your way to the next 30 years :evilgrin: (only the good die young:P..)

[5thGenDemocrat]

9. I'd sure like to get another 30

I'd even settle for twenty -- but ten ain't hardly enough, ya know.
John
Good to hear from you, SoCal. You were one of my first buddies here.

[SoCalDem]

11. Yep.. we were here when it was a "widdle baby website"..n/t

:)

[knowbody0]

8. im glad you're glad im glad

welcome home!

[5thGenDemocrat]

10. Thank you

I'm glad you're glad I'm glad you're glad.
John
We can do this all day -- but let's not.

[ScreamingMeemie]

12. I am more than glad I have you John..Heal up. Feel better.

I was really worried. :hug:

[5thGenDemocrat]

18. Aw, thank you, Mrs G

It is now 296 days, 20 hours and 12 minutes until FUNDAY XII. I think we'd better get all of them in that we can (under the circumstances). See you June 17!!
John
If not before -- you and Mr G are always welcome here.

[Festivito]

14. Wow. That sounds wild, scary, and relieving all at once.

So glad you are feeling well enough to log it here.

To be sure, I've missed all the prior posts on this. Sorry, that I did not see them. So, glad, .. so very glad that you are doing well John.

My best to you, Polly, the cats, ... well, everybody concerned up there. No cigs, a little wine, some beer, good eating can all lead to a good long life -- not just a life that feels as though it is long.

Eminating the warm feelings of friendship from down here,
Fes

[5thGenDemocrat]

19. Thank you, Fest

When I quit smoking last time (for 207 days in 1999), I bought a bunch of tobacco-leaf cigars and chewed on them when I had an urge to smoke. It releases enough nicotine that you don't jones and gives you something to do with your hands (no, I don't light them).
Thanks again for the kind words.
John
Still alive and kicking and intends to stay that way as long as possible.

[meganmonkey]

17. Welcome back!

:hi:

[5thGenDemocrat]

21. Thank you, megan

Damned glad to back here.
John
Especially considering the alternative.

[Debi]

20. My dad went through two valve replacements last summer

boy, that was scary
:hug:
glad you're here!b

[5thGenDemocrat]

23. I'm glad your dad's here, too

Tell him I send him regards.
John
And, yes, it really IS scary. Especially that "ten years" thing (in my case).

[nini]

22. Welcome home... good to see you're doing better

I'm sure it'll be tough to change all your ways at once but you sound like you're in the right frame of mind. Strength to you to get through it all!

:hug:

[5thGenDemocrat]

25. As long as I have my DUers like you, I'll be okay

I have a lot of local friends here in Saginaw watching my back too. You should come on up to FUNDAY (now just 296 days, 20 hours and four minutes away) and meet them. We have a good reason to celebrate this year.
John
That is, the recovery thing and the fact it'll be Mike B's 50th birthday. Hope to meet you then.

[Midlodemocrat]

24. Glad to hear you are on the mend.

:hug:

[5thGenDemocrat]

26. Thank you

I haven't felt this good in a couple of years (aside from the fact that the area around my femoral artery really REALLY smarts where they sent the roto-rooter in).
John
But, like I said above, consider the alternative.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

27. I am SO relieved that you are on the mend....

Whatever the bill comes to...it was worth it...

I think that 30 or 40 more years might be adequate!

:woohoo: :woohoo:

[5thGenDemocrat]

29. My family either dies young (hopefully not me)

Or they live well into their 80s and 90s. I don't consider myself immortal by any means, but it seems to me that 55 or 60 years is a mighty short trip (if I have a choice).
John
Thanks for checking in, Peggy. You know you're one of my favorites here.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

31. It's my pleasure! I'd much rather tell you how very glad I am that

you're getting well, than to tell your widow how sorry I am that you passed....

I appreciate your very kind words to me...:loveya: :hug:

[northzax]

28. welcome home

you wonder of modern medicine you.

take care, and don't get too worked up about the Chimp, there's plenty of time for that when the ol' ticker's feeling better, ok? we'll build up a little spare rage for you.

everyone, you are responsible for 1/70,000th of 5th Gen's rage, ok?

[5thGenDemocrat]

30. I appreciate the gesture, northzax

I think I will take it mellow for a couple of weeks -- it's going to take me that long to read all the post-op instructions and prescription schedules I've got to know (I mean I have about six different scripts I'm supposed to take).
John
Now you guys get out there, get angry, and make me proud!!