Tuesday in Dunwoody

I awoke this morning around 6:00 in Frank's old room in Mom and Dad's house in Dunwoody. I remembered that Dad has probably left already to pick up Doris at the bus stop. Doris is the maid who comes on Tuesdays. I went into the bathroom at the top of the stairs and shave and shower. By the time that I dressed for the day, Mom was downstairs.

So I went downstairs and Mom made me a breakfast of cheese grits and orange juice and iced tea. While eating, Dad and Doris arrived and we reacquainted ourselves. Doris passed on a story about me, she thought, driving Jessie (our old maid) to the bus stop in my convertible with the top down. Quite a show even in post-Civil Rights Atlanta. I didn't remember this story, but assumed that it had to be me. It just didn't sound like Frank and I don't think he ever drove the '68 Sport Fury in Dunwoody at a time when he would have been called on to drive Jessie to the bus stop. And again, from a personality standpoint, it sounded more like me than Frank.

I'm laying it out here, realizing that Frank may comment that it, indeed, was him. Whatever. [Frank has left me a comment that it was indeed him that drove them to the bus stop in the convertible. As I said, it was Doris's memory, not mine. I just knew that I drove the convertible longer than Frank did. Of course, most of my driving was in Virginia. Since Frank is a semi-Catholic, maybe he can enlighten me on 'Stella Maris,' as well.]

Anyway, we began wondering about Cindy,as it was close to her appointed time to be at St. Joseph's hospital at 8:00. So, I walked up the stairs and Cindy asked about the time. I told her it was 7:45 and she whooped.

Meanwhile, I made the beds, gathered the items I would need in the hospital for a day and a half, gathered Cindy's things together and headed down to the car to load up. About the time I got back into the house, Cindy came downstairs and we hopped in the car and headed to St. Joe's.

We were looking for a building with the name of Stella Maris. We passed the first main building and continue on down the drive. The outpatient building was next. I asked Cindy if that was the place. She said, "I don't know. Its the Stella Maris building."

I saw the name "Stella Maris" at the top of the building. "I think that's it."

Cindy looked at me with a little consternation, "Well, I don't know. Its the Stella Maris building we're looking for."

I pointed up to the top of the building, "That's what is says up there."

Cindy looked, "Well, I don't see it."

I pulled into the drive. They offered Valet parking. What the Hell? Is this a fancy restaurant? I stopped in front of the entrance. Cindy departed the vehicle. "I will see you inside."

I pulled around to the parking deck entrance. I had to drive all the way to the end of the line of buildings and crossed several oncoming lanes before I could complete this maneuver. Fortunately, there are few cars around her at this early hour.

I took the parking ticket and found a place to park. I gathered several items and my briefcase and started down from the top level towards the building. I realized that I didn't have my billfold or my ipod. I returned to the car. Someone assumed I was leaving and parked his car behind mine, sitting in his car waiting for me to leave. I was digging through the passenger side of the front seats. Why he thought I was leaving remains a mystery. Perhaps he thought I was driving a Ford Explorer which had been altered for British driving.

Anyway, I carried my stuff to the Stella Maris building. I found Cindy at the front desk. She turned with a new look of consternation on her face. "Guess what. They don't have me scheduled for surgery today. And we have to wait until the doctor's office opens to figure out what is happening."

"Well, we better find some seats."

So we sat and waited for the doctors and nurses to arrive. "I wonder who Stella Maris was?"

Cindy looked at me with a look of wonder, "I think its the Star of Mary."

"I thought it might be Roger Maris's widow."

"I don't think so."

So we waited some more. Finally 9:10 arrived and Cindy could talk to someone at the doctor's office. She was immediately placed on hold. The scheduler finally came online. She gave some reason why Cindy was wrong. Cindy gave her some reason why she was told a wrong time. Finally, she confirmed that Cindy's surgery was scheduled for Thursday. I called Patti at the office. "Cindy's surgery is on Thursday. Call the lawyer in Waycross and rearrange the deposition for Thursday."

"Ok."

I turned to Cindy, "Are you hungry?"

"Yes, and thirsty too."

"Do you want to go to Mimi's for breakfast?"

"Sure."

So the morning ended with Eggs Benedict, Belgian Waffles, bacon and the tallest glass of Cranberry juice I have ever seen. It turned out to be a delightful little morning with my wife in Dunwoody.

Still, the surgery awaits.