What was originally estimated to be a seven-to-ten day hospital stay has morphed into a three-weeker. During the time since my last posting, base camp has been struck a number of times, interspersed with a similar number of brief returns home. We are now working towards a discharge date and return home on Monday, the 13th.

Much more unsettling than the prolonged hospital stay, the scheduled surgery was not as successful as originally outlined. This period of hospitalization was suppose to bring closure to a process that began last summer. My wife is now facing another surgery at a yet undetermined date. We trust that it will be sooner rather than later. That means there will be at least one more medical vacation for the non-hospitalized spouse.

I was either asked or the suggestion was made that I make up a pot of pea soup so that it is ready for the homecoming. The soup is now sitting on the back of the stove, where it will cool a bit, before being repackaged and placed in the refrigerator. There is a part of a loaf Swedish rye and a block of Colby cheese on hand for grilled cheese sandwiches to accompany the soup. If we are able to ascertain the medical/healing properties of pea soup with grilled cheese, these will become the subject of a future posting.