TLC for Ref

I'm trying to engage the private-duty nurse at left for Ref -- just to pay him back for the scare: When I got to the house this morning, Brantley said Ref had called, from the hospital, and had undergone some gut surgery over the weekend.

I didn't get out to Stock Island quite as fast as the night I rocketed Robert to the E.R. for a kidney stone, but I didn't lose any time either -- aside from a stop for a card and a nice exotic orchid.

The first good news came from Dorothy, a big, handsome woman at the reception desk: "Oh, he's up and around, and he's doing fine," she grinned. Ref has a lot of friends.

Ref was indeed in a chair, and grousing mildly that they were making him walk as much as possible. He says they expect him to be out in a few days and to mend nicely. That's a relief not because he's my contractor -- when I got back to the house to give a full report to the crew, they were doing exactly what needed doing, and there's plenty on their plate till Ref gets well -- but because he's my friend.