Our Chicago Trip

We've just returned from the latest visit with the Marvelous Dr. Love, Cliff's transplant surgeon. Monday was a day of tests and Tuesday we saw the doctor and reviewed the test results. Everything looks good and Dr. Love proclaimed, "Cliff, I believe your body has just decided these lungs are okay." That's it in a nutshell -- I'm always a nervous wreck until we actually see the good doctor and hear from him that everything's fine. January 27 will be 15 years since Cliff's bilateral lung transplant. As most of you know, he's done amazingly well, but it's still been a hell of a ride.

While we were waiting for Cliff to be called for his MRI, we saw an elderly priest walk in and suddenly realized we were in the presence of Cardinal George! Cliff happened to be in the room next to him as they were changing for their MRI's and they had a pleasant conversation -- even though it's been years since he's darkened the door of a Catholic church, seeing the cardinal up close and in person was impressive. Cliff told him he had been a policeman who sometimes guarded the cardinal's residence, an assignment he liked not only because of how easy it was, but also because of how kindly he was treated. Cardinal George replied, "Please feel free to come back any time!"

We were in Chicago when the governor was arrested, an event which was the talk of the town. No one was surprised at the "crimes" of which he's being accused. What boggled folks' minds was that he was so stupid or arrogant or both that he actually discussed them on his home phone, even though he knew he was under federal scrutiny. After Cliff's appointment at Loyola on Tuesday, he and his old CPD partner, Mike, went for a steam at the one bathhouse left in Chicago. At dinner, they were laughing about Blago and wondering why he didn't go to the bathhouse to talk business -- after all, it's a place where you have to be "somebody somebody sent," everyone's naked so wires aren't a problem, and it's so hot and humid there's no way any kind of electronic device would function or survive. The other amazing story was Jesse, Jr. who, it appears, has been snitching on Blago to the feds for years and may have at least contemplated paying to play. Word has it he's toast.

We stayed at the Amalfi Hotel downtown, our flights came and went right on the button, and we were there and back before all the weather, so all in all, it was a good trip. And, after I got home and calmed down, I was reminded once again of all the folks who have supported and helped and treated and cared for us over the past 16 years -- there is, indeed, a band of angels watching over us for which we are eternally grateful.