Make a List. And a List of the Lists.

February 15th, I embarked on what I call my Great Medical Adventure. I had a series of debilitating seizures (a new and terrifying experience) that treated me to a delightful ride with EMS to a less-than-delightful local hospital (doctors, nurses, and staff were great) followed up by a brain biopsy. Results are pending, but it looks like a dead serious version of Let’s Make a Deal. There are 3 doors, only one of which hides imminent Death. OK, I can live with that.

But that’s not what I want to tell you. I want to talk about making lists.

When I was discharged from the hospital, I came home batshit crazy. I was behaving at caveman level, my brain was squirmin’ like a toad, spooked by my new situation.

Riders on the storm
Riders on the storm
Into this house we’re born
Into this world we’re thrown
Like a dog without a bone
An actor out on loan
Riders on the storm

There’s a killer on the road
His brain is squirmin’ like a toad
Take a long holiday
Let your children play
If you give this man a ride
Sweet memory will die
Killer on the road, yeah

Being a beneficiary of professional military discipline, I did the only thing I could do to exert some control over myself and deal with some serious mortal dread: I made lists.

I made lists of things I needed to buy immediately. I made lists of things I need to do. I made lists of home improvements to help cope with the onset of mobility impairment (why doesn’t every new home have grab bars in the bathrooms?). I made lists of things to sell. I made lists of books to buy. I made lists of recipes for my recommended new diet. Then I made lists of all the lists. And used that list to consolidate all the other lists. Then I started doing things on the lists, carefully crossing off tasks and things as I went.

I’m down to 3 lists, and one of ’em is getting taken for a ride today.

So now what? I’ve invented a whole new list for myself. You can read part of it in my post The Random Texan is IN THE HOUSE, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg. I’ve set myself a task that will be deeply satisfying and make long-term contributions to my community. And make me new friends and a lot smarter along the way. Stay tuned.

Update: this is not encouraging. But it tells me to be patient.