Yes, folks, I'm handing myself over to the tender mercies of US health care on January 7th for hip replacement surgery. Not exactly cause for celebration at age 60, but not surprising either considering my parents did so in their early 60's. I have all the confidence in the world in the surgeon. My concerns are anesthesia, MRSA and paying the bill. I suppose if I survive the surgery and avoid MRSA and I can take care of the latter concern s-l-o-w-l-y. I'll probably be incommunicado for a month (too many stairs to navigate).

I'm sharing this with all of you, because I value this community.