On a lighter note… 

For the last several years, much to K’s chagrin, my political and social views have become more conservative. Whenever I voice such an opinion, she dismisses it by insisting that I must have an undetected brain tumor. Thus, it was inevitable, when surgery was scheduled and our moods lifted, that the subject was mentioned. K explained “the problem” and her diagnosis to Dr. Hope and asked if he could, while clearing the plaque from my artery, clear out whatever else was in the neighborhood that was causing it. Dr. Hope, unaccustomed perhaps to this depth of black humor, bowed his head and laughed noiselessly for a minute before looking up and saying, “I’ve never had such a request, but I’ll do the best I can.”