41. Healthy

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Great word, healthy. I never realized what a warm, soothing word it was until I became an old guy. It’s a comforting word. I hear it, and I let out a sigh of relief.

I’m almost 75, and relatively speaking, I’m healthy. (Phhhhwww… See? There’s the sigh of relief.) Don’t get me wrong; people don’t mistake me for a hot 43-year-old tennis pro. My legs got bad enough that I finally gave up tennis. I need to lose 10-15 pounds. And in a noisy restaurant, I hear half of what’s being said at our table. But… I’m basically healthy. I SAID I’M BASICALLY HEALTHY!! (PHHHHWWW!)

Seriously though, folks.

In 2020, during the pandemic that won’t disappear, the concept of healthy has become even more important to people our age. It is a fact that older people are especially vulnerable to covid-19 infection, and that’s scary. I get a cough, and I think, oh shit. Or if the omelette doesn’t taste quite right… feel my head, do I have a fever?

All of this is to say that it’s comforting just to know we’re healthy. And that brings me to the point of this Old Guy post.

Oh wait. I may have left out a small detail.

Did I mention that our son and figlia-in-law, who just moved to Chicago, are pregnant? (I kept telling them, move back to Chicago! Good things happen in Chicago!) Did I mention that Carole and I are going to be grandparents? Did I mention that we’ve been waiting for their test results to come back to tell us the gender of our first grandchild? Did I mention any of that to you? I’m sorry. Must have slipped my mind, what with the World Series and the Election and all. Anyway, the kids are pregnant, Margherita had her doctor’s appointment for genetic testing, and we’ve been waiting for the results. Now you’re up to speed.

So I’m grilling salmon on the deck. Carole comes out and says, “Get in here! The kids want to chat. They have news!” I say, “Tell them we’ll call ‘em right back. Salmon’s got another minute.” Grandchildren are important, but you have to cook a good piece of salmon just right. You can’t rush it.

I get the salmon off the grill, we call them back, and Carole puts them on speaker. We’re about to find out if we’re buying Obama or RBG crib sheets and pillow cases. “Hey guys, whassup?”

Matt says they just talked to the doctor. Yeah, yeah, yeah, so whassup? Thankfully, Margherita’s voice interrupts. “So first of all… we found out we have a healthy baby.”

Phhhhwww!! I didn’t plan to let out that sigh; it just came. And we hadn’t even found out what I thought we wanted to find out. But we did find out what we really wanted to find out: they have a healthy baby.

Wow. It’s about the size of a healthy lemon right now, with a healthy heartbeat. And it should arrive around April 30. (We checked our calendar; we’re free that month.)

What impressed me about that brief, joyful phone call was that I thought we just wanted to know if it was a boy or a girl. But Margherita knew what we all really needed to know: that it was healthy.

Phhhhwww.

The salmon was done perfectly; with a little lemon, it tasted just right. And in case you’re wondering, we’re going to have a granddaughter.

23 thoughts on “41. Healthy”

  1. What wonderful news! Since the babe can’t be named Larry Jr., as you proposed years ago, perhaps M&M might consider Larrietta. I’m so happy that everyone is healthy and that you are all in the same zip code!

    P.S. Loved April’s post!

    1. Yeah, that was good comment. I’ve been waiting to get my toes done for quite awhile.

  2. Congratulations! We always enjoy reading your blogs. Keep us updated.

    1. Thanks to both of you. I’m taking grandpa lessons watching Paul’s and Alex’s videos on Facebook. Nicely done!! I’ll always remember the “Octopus’s Garden” video Paul made with Erin and her little sister,
      Rachel.

  4. Congrats to you and Carole. Great news. Our grandkids are a joy all the time. Stay healthy the little one will need you. Bill

    1. Just think, Steve, how much more difficult it’s going to be to communicate when you’re 10 years older!

  7. What good news! Thanks for sharing your family’s anticipation. We will look forward to your chronicles during the months ahead. A coming and welcomed baby surely lifts spirits from the greyness of the season and the daily grind of this situation surrounding us all. So also am glad that you are “healthy” and appreciative of this tag these days.

  8. Congratulations on the new granddaughter. I was worried about the salmon at first because you can’t overdo (or under do) salmon. You told this story just right. Loved it. I hope to see the baby around the building in the future). – after Covid 19, of course.

    1. You’re right, Jim. If I had messed up the salmon, I would have held a grudge against my granddaughter all her life!

  9. Awww Larry that is fantastic news. We’re so happy for you guys huge congratulations and all our love ❤️❤️❤️❤️

  10. Mitchener, I forgot u were one of the ‘younger kids’ along w Cheryl. Jan? Feb?

    I AM THRILLED for you & Carol!

    And I can’t wait for election results sometime next week – to know your baby will come into a Better and somewhat sane world!! I don’t care who reads this😁.

    speaking of iphones, (I just read an older post re:same…my phone (have no dog) ate your contact card. You are not singular, I have a bunch of missing contact cards😱.

    please email all to: suebdc@gmail.com

    BTW, I need a new rt knee and will come to Chicago in Spring (& stay w daughter for rehab) in the Spring. Would you like to suggest Surgeon??etc??

    Perhaps I’ll be there to greet the new baby (whoopee) but likely, w Covid still ‘the rage’ it will be over Facetime

    Hugs, Suzie

  11. Wonderful news! Congratulations! So happy to hear everyone is healthy! ❤️

  12. So great to hear some good news! Congratulations to all the Mitcheners! A healthy baby is such a gift! xoxo

  13. What wonderful news! I’m thrilled everyone is healthy, including you. The small ones do a lot of things. They bring us joy and mostly importantly hope. And entertainment. I can’t wait for the pictures of you getting your hair done and nails painted by an imp who will completely control you

    1. Thanks, Doc. Is Florida retirement all it’s cracked up to be? You thinking about moving back to OP? You’re missed here.

  16. La bambina! Congratulations to all. Una ragazza for Clare!. Healthy is a most important word, indeed.

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