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I tend to spend too much time doing intro to these adventures of mine and short shrift the middle and rush the ending and feared the wrath brought on by the words that frankly kept Dickens and Dumas rolling along--TO BE CONTINUED.

While detailing the succesful surgery (admittedly very minor--none of my guttersnipes have asked for any sort of update and even today the long suffering one failed to mention it to daughter Sandy when feeling her out for holiday plans) there was some interesting events in patient watching.

In the waiting room for the Dayton Cancer Treatment Office there were approximately a dozen chairs and most were filled up with people whose age dropped me down back to the you're just a youngun' stage.

I had chatted with the daughter of one couple whose father was awaiting treatment--there were still doing his workups when I escaped later that morning. Her mother had broked her leg last Mother's Day. Dad is 88 and still thinks HE can get by. Her mother was also on hand. He walked himself back to the exam room under daughter's watchful eye - successfully and we chatted a bit about our respective homes. I knew some of the roads and small towns of Preble County thanks to AAA and she mentioned working at a place called Jungle Jim's that I was supposed to be aware of--on the lines of having heard of King's Island Amusment Park or Trader's World. In this instance I feigned--nope--out and out lied to avoid exposing my ignorance of Ohio landmarks. Darn where did my New Yorker sense of superiority go? The Mid-Atlantic states are killing my sense of identity--even though I'ld rather be here then there. This is just me being awkward in social settings after getting off to a good start. Would have been just as easy to admit never heard of it but I sensed she wanted her employment recognized as worthy.

Moving on--Dad came back. I was called in or my fun and games and then had read Spurgeon in their chilly kitchen and helped myself to free water ignoring the coffee. Upon my return to the waiting room the ladies father was conversing with a newly arrived couple awaitng their turn at poke and prod time and I heard a story that you think you only hear in story books and this needs to be shared in all its sweetness.

Dear old Dad could not wait to tell the tale of meeting his true love. I perked up at this and shamelessly listened in as on my return I was not at my original seat but close enough to clearly hear all that was said. His wife blushes but gives her consent to have the tale told to these new strangers and I'm certain by far not the last to be delighted by the upcoming events.

It seems that dear old Hubby was driving along the roads somewhere in Preble county (where they all lived back then) and stopped abruptly at the sight of a young lady standing very close to the road. This had to have been around the 1940s. He is startled enough by this vision of female delight to stop his vehicle and march right up to the home of said lady and have a very animated chat with the father of said lady. Wanted to know what the young lady was doing so close to the road and diverting his attention from the highway.

The lady in question was all of three years old.

Dad retrieves his wayward daughter from the highway and back into the house and thanks the young stranger for his responsible actions and concerns.

Twenty years after (to steal a Dumas title) ---

Slightly older young man approximately 37/38 meets a fair and delightful young maiden of great beauty and character (to him anyway) and is smitten while at a small college at Oxford.

Guess who??

Now I thought being 8/9 years older then the long suffering spouse was a big deal but this guy wooed and won her and when going home to meet the parents after all these years recognized the home and a Reader's Digest/Touched by an angel moment occurs.

And here we are 40 years later. He's holding up remarkably and Mom was too.
Still very much in love from all I heard that morning.

Just had to share this one. Too good to be lost to the ages.