so it comes and goes
For this post I’m playing off the recurring phrase “and so it goes” from Kurt Vonnegut’s nonpareil 1969 novel Slaughterhouse Five, which opened me to a much wider world. I don’t know if he coined the phrase — advice to accept whatever life chooses to send your way — but it has reverberated through pop culture since. Musicians ranging from Nick Lowe to Perry Como to Ratking to Taylor Swift released songs with that title. There was a British TV show by that name and even an episode of NCIS.
At age 79, a lot has come and gone in my life, much of it fleeting pleasure, enough of it pesky pain. You don’t stack up as many birthday cakes as I have without learning how to roll with the punches. I just had a significant punch. My left lung has collapsed for the third time. In March of last year I had surgery to fix it and it was fine until a month ago. My doctor thinks this leak will heal itself, so I’m on light duty at least until my next X-ray in two weeks. I’m sitting comfotably, and, as always, I’m under constant nursing supervision: my beloved Jude.
I will certainly keep you in the loop. In the meantime I have a lot of baseball and football to watch.
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Anchor Struck 
one of my brothers had their lung collapse when he was in his early 20’s. it collapsed 3 times within a 6 month period and they finally operated on him and i believe sewed his lung to the wall of his chest so it could not collapse again. (this was a good 45 yrs ago so.. not sure if that was the real way they fixed it or what. he does have a scar that runs about half way around his chest. then within the next couple years his other lung did the same thing they ended up doing the same surgery on him for that lung. he looks like he was cut in half. but no problems since!. hope yours doesn’t do that!
The surgery I had 18 months ago involved inserting a tube in my chest and scratching the hole in my lung so it would scar over. I would do it again if it comes to that. I hope my age doesn’t count that out.
the tube thing is what they did to my brother the first few times his collapsed. so those look like bullet holes
When they pulled it out, it felt like a bullet passing through me.
Good excuse to relax and take it easy. I’m doing the same these days after a medical procedure, and it’s easier said than done, isnt it! And not at all easy to roll with the punches. Enforced slowing-down, though, does remind me to appreciate my surroundings with fresh eyes. Every moment a gift.
Hey, Kate. Getting old isn’t for sissies, eh? It makes each day more precious. I hope that I can blog and you can comment for many years.