More panicked about packing for a week in the hospital than for the surgery

That’s either a good thing, of course, or it means I’m in denial about the surgery itself!

Again, though, so far so good: I’ve been on a liquid diet for the past two days (and a low-fat diet for the past week) in preparation for the surgery. Not exactly what I would choose, but Karen and Cameron have helped by making a delicious turkey broth and by puréeing some non-fat honey Greek yoghourt with some milk; these augment the Carnation Instant Breakfast and the yoghourt drinks.... But at least I can still have coffee, and I was able to enjoy a wonderful turkey dinner when we celebrated Thanksgiving on Friday.

The delayed Thanksgiving was because Karen’s folks (John and Judy) have come up from Ohio, avoiding traffic by driving mostly on Thanksgiving day. Timothy is also up from Brown, so we had a delightful and delicious dinner on Friday, followed by a nice long walk together in the sun (50º!). In the evening we had delicious pies baked by Cameron, and played games. It was a really, really nice day!

We’re so very grateful that Judy and John have been able to come up from Ohio and stay here with Cameron while I’m in the hospital. It means Karen will be able to spend quite a lot of time with me in Dartmouth-Hitchcock without Cameron having to stay at home alone. And from my perspective, it means I’ll be able rest easy knowing that Cameron and their grandparents will be having a good time together in Cabot.

This afternoon, we’re heading off to Hanover, N.H. Timothy will catch the bus back to Brown (by way of Boston) from there, and the rest of us will do some window-shopping and cafe-sitting-at, followed by viewing A Princess Bride in a movie theater, and dinner (or “dinner” in my case).

Karen and I will spend the night with friends near Hanover, enabling us to get an early start without having to leave Cabot at an insanely early hour — for the hospital wants us to arrive at 5:45 a.m.

Yes, 5:45 a.m. The surgery itself starts at 7:30, and should end at around 3:00. I expect I’ll be slightly the worse for wear, so Karen will post here in the late afternoon or early evening — once I’m settled in the hospital room — to let all-y’all know how things went.

Again, if all goes perfectly, they expect me to stay in the hospital for 7–10 days; so I should be out the week of December 4th. I’ll miss the kitties, but will be tremendously grateful to have Karen by my side....