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WHEN “UNCLE” GOT DRUNK
One day, when I came to see “Uncle” in the morning, I found his bed empty. His floor nurse told me that he had been sent down for a test that was very intrusive and frightening. I asked if I could wait outside for him. I went downstairs to the operating suite waiting area and told the attendant that I was waiting for him. The surgical nurse came out and asked if I wouldn’t mind keeping “Uncle” company, since he was very distressed. The doctor was going to be late, and “Uncle” was being held in the testing room among all the instruments to be used. She feared his anxiety might affect the test results. I went in and held his hand. “Uncle” shared with me that was afraid he might not wake up from the anesthesia. We chatted about various things and the nurse mentioned that she was getting married soon. That led to “Uncle” trying to remember the songs he sang for my wedding 13 years before. We had remembered and sang through two of them, but couldn’t recall the third. Then the doctor came in—and had been listening to us from outside. He told “Uncle” he wouldn’t be surprised if he woke up singing the very song he couldn’t remember. I went outside as the doctor administered the sedative for the procedure, all the time suggesting that “Uncle” leave him to his job and concentrate on remembering the song. About twenty minutes later, I was roused from my seat by a familiar baritone voice, belting out “O Perfect Love all other loves transcending…” from the gurney rolling up the hallway. The doctor said he would be fine, just a little “drunk” from the anesthesia, to which “Uncle” loudly proclaimed. I CERTAINLY am not a drunk, Sir, I am a Salvationist!”, then launched into a hearty rendition of “Stand Up for Jesus.” Later, we had a good laugh about what happens when a Salvation Army Soldier gets “drunk”. He didn’t remember a thing. Within a few days, he was well enough to be out of Intensive Care and into a Rehabilitation Unit to regain strength. back to healing hands healing hearts
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