all better, mostly

My sister-in-law is out of the hospital, and doing much better. The final diagnosis was asthma/pneumonia/onset of emphysema, which is enough to put anybody down. But although they've got issues ahead of them, the crisis seems to be over. She is, of course, giving up smoking.

Meanwhile, just to make sure we don't get too comfortable, our dog spent the last 24 hours being violently ill, pretty much all over the place. It's important not to get too complacent. (He seems to be feeling better.)

The Pope Is Not a Sissy

SLIGHTLY OFF THE MARK

 

            “The Pope is a sissy,” said my friend, Howie Dunnit, who’s always full of interesting ideas.

            I took a few steps away from him. That’s usually a wise idea when speaking to Howie, especially on religious matters. He doesn’t worry much about offending Anyone.

            No, I explained to Howie. The new Pope is named after St. Francis of Assisi, who gave up his wealth and was famous for helping the poor.

            “I’m talking about the way they dress, dummy.”

            (Okay, Howie’s not a close friend.)

            “Did you see those red slippers? Come on. It worked for Dorothy, but she was a sixteen year old girl – when a 266 year old guy wears them, he’s a sissy.”

            First of all, Dorothy was closer to ten and wore silver slippers –

            “Don’t start that again. Give it up; everyone’s forgotten there were books before the movies.”

            Okay, fine – but he’s 76, not 266. He’s the 266^th Pope. And Dorothy was blonde.

            “Yeah, and maybe this guy was blond too, when he was 90.”

            I took another step away from him, just in case. Was that lightning?           

(  I heard he has a simpler fashion sense than previous pontiffs, Howie continued. Why does a Pope have any fashion sense? The man wears a robe and slippers all day. He dresses just like my old man did through his entire retirement. )