Thank you everyone so very much for all your kind words, well wishes and offers of help. I am completely overwhelmed by all the support you've given me. I was in tears reading these posts. You're wonderful friends and I am so glad that I am a part of this lovely community.

And to Maureen (Irish), my good friend, thank you so very much for posting that wonderful first message that prompted so many of you to join in. And I received emails & PM's from a number of you as well. Thank you all so much. I really am overwhelmed by all this. I never thought for a minute that I had this kind of effect on people. My goodness, you've all made me feel so very humble and so very happy.

My heart took a major hit so I will be out of commission for a while - can't drive, can't do anything strenuous, etc. The 2nd operation was unsuccessful but it wasn't near as serious so it's not a major concern at this point. Main thing is to keep calm, rest and get well !

I live my life that everything happens for a reason so I try to take nothing as a surprise or shock. And the reason this time ? To finally stop smoking cigarettes.

So, smoke free since Tuesday, on the patch daily and starting on my way to eliminating an old habit. Won't be easy after all these years but I am determined and I will beat this.

Course I have other issues like the stress, fast food, too much coca cola and yes, that wacky tobacky, but one thing at a time and in that order as my good friend Maureen said to me.

I'd like to relate a couple of funny stories that happened while I was in the hospital. Okay, they have this thing they call a "strong arm" which is used to put pressure on the incision where they enter to insert the stint. My area was the groin (yee-ikes). The "strong arm" is spring loaded and so with each click downwards onto my tender groin, the pain increased and so did my language at the 2 unfortunate nurses doing the procedure. I was calling them every expletive I've ever learned...."your mother was a hamster", "your father stunk of elderberry wine", "you roman cow", "you rotten dogs" and several that shouldn't be posted. The F word was fairly dominant throughout, lol. The nurses laughed a little but understood that the pain was immense. We laughed together afterwords along with a few apologies from me, lol.

And every time the ahem, "meals" came, I immediately asked if my bacon was crisp, the egg was over easy, the home fried potatoes were spiced nicely and the white toast had lots of butter...or was my steak done well, baked potato loaded with butter and my cigar snipped at the end..... Of course I got none of that and actually lost some weight from not eating the muck they called food but it brought a smile daily from the nurses and they treated me very very well. Thankfully my lovely wife Karen came in with a good supply of edibles, (fruits, etc). Helped me survive the ordeal.

When my time does come in 20 or so years, my wake will be at Caledon Golf Club. And all who attend will take part in the first and last Strato-Putting Championship on the putting green. The winner gets my end cut from the juicy roast beef that will be served. And you're all invited !

Thank you again everyone and you'll see me posting again soon.

strato-heart