Rocky Road…

Last week, when I was in the hospital awaiting diagnosis for the aforementioned meeting of my mind with a concrete wall, there was a lot of time to kill. My wife was super sweet and offered to read to me, which I readily accepted. I found it soothing and although it was tough to maintain my focus, it helped take my mind (such as it was) off things (such as they were). Besides, she’s a fourth grade teacher, so she’s excellent at reading out loud. And I suppose that in my dazed state, I wasn’t that much different than her 10 year old students. In any case, she read beautifully and it was quite peaceful.

I sat with my eyes half closed, neither of us exactly sure whether current medical opinion allowed for sleeping with a concussion or not. Suddenly, a stranger wandered into the room, which is never pleasant in a hospital… or anywhere I suppose. We both looked up, she with her book, me with my ice-pack. The injured interloper looked around for a moment and said, “That’s so sweet. You know? I was just walking by and I was remembering the movie Rocky, when Adrian is in the hospital and Rocky is reading to her. You ‘member that?” I nodded my head, and at that moment, knew that my concussion couldn’t be that serious because not only did I recall that scene,  I also knew it had actually happened in Rocky II. I decided not to mention it. “Yeah,” continued the man, whose voice was somewhat reminiscent of Stalone’s, “That’s awesome. You guys are awesome. So sweet.” Then he turned and headed back to the hallway, shaking his head in seeming amazement and muttering, “That’s love, man… True love.”

I looked over at my wife, smiled and said, “Yo, Adrian.”