Please say some prayers…

Suzanne's aunt Virginia isn't doing too well down in Dallas, as a result of a severe stroke yesterday morning.

This afternoon, I took Suzanne and her sister Lindsay to the airport to fly down to Dallas to be with Virginia and the family, come what may.

It's been a really long week around our house, with me holding down the fort while Suzanne worked EARLY mornings through LATE nights for the CVB, hosting a couple of travel writers as they explored the region. And now she had to head out. I don't know how she does it when I'm on the road for work so much, honestly.

As she left me to head to the security line at the airport, we hugged. Long and hard. One of our best hugs in a long time. Sure, we hug and are affectionate every day. But this one was different. It acknowledged what we share, what's important, and what we mean to each other. And it imparted some much-needed comfort and serenity into what's been a few whirlwind days. It's too bad the uncertainty of life and death and illness and the like had to come along to bring out such a good hug. We'll have to work on bringing hugs like that one back to our home when she's back.

April Fool!

April Fools day is special to me, as it's the anniversary of my Baptism.

But it's special to the rest of the world for another reason.

Suzanne pulled a good one on me. Mid-afternoon, I had just left an onsite meeting with a client here in St. Louis and I received this in an email from her:

B__ [one of Suzanne's coworkers] was just called, and her doctor has confirmed that she has a severe case of MRSA staph infection.  Her and her family have been sent to Barnes Hospital immediately to be quarantined.  They may need to actually remove part of the muscle surrounding the infected area in her upper arm.  He told her that she let it go too long, and it is in advanced stages.  At this point, she is highly contagious to anyone who has had contact with her.  The health department has interviewed her.  All of her co-workers and their family members will need to go to the ER asap for evaluation.  This is a very grave matter. I will be leaving here very soon.  Please call me.

April fool, eh dear? I'll get you back.