Philip writes: “I wrote previously about going to my brother’s 80th birthday party in Tacoma, Wash. and noticing how many old folks were there…then I realized I was one of them! Dick Nicoli once said you are never old until you have your first heart attack.

Early Oct. 4, 2014 I joined the old folks. I awoke at around two bathed in a cool sweat, sharp pain under the sternum and right shoulder, and lots and lots of gas. I munched on Tums and Ibuprofen and tried to get comfortable. In the morning Nancy said I did not look good so to the emergency room we went. Being a gallant “young man” I held the door for an older couple and let them sign in. Nancy parked the car and got the attention of the nurse on duty and things began to happen fast, so fast it did not begin to register on me until…well I guess I am still waiting for it to hit me. One usually thinks of major heart surgery as a big event. In two days I was back home watching baseball and football games.  I am under orders not to do anything strenuous for the next week or two. I am really good at that! Then for the next six months I will be doing cardio rehab somewhere. I can’t believe what a close call this was. It always happens to someone else until…”