Early Monday morning I went to see the cardiologist--about seven years ago I had a spell of atrial fib, so once a year I go back to the doctor, the nurse runs an EKG, the doctor looks at it, every year it's been fine and I go home.

As long as I stay away from caffeine, everything's hunky dory. Something in the de-caffeinating process changes the taste of coffee and tea for the worse, but that's what I have to stick with. What's interesting is, the doctor says beer or some hard liquors triggers atrial fib in certain patients. I don't drink, so I don't worry about that.

Anyhoo, after the good news I felt like celebrating. Cousin Ellie went with me, and she had been telling me about this casino in Gulfport that has a lunch buffet with giant shrimp, so I drove down there. The Coast is bustling, and the traffic is heavy. The radio was warning about bad weather moving in during the afternoon, with rain and snow flurries possible. The weather is so bizarre now you don't now what to expect.

We ate lunch and started back home--well, after playing a few penny slots first. Getting out of the casino was difficult becuse of construction, so I asked Ellie to drive us out. It had started to rain. Wellsir, at the first red light on the interstate, an eighteen wheeler was idling next to us. The light changed, and that idiot decided to change lanes and get in front of us. I wonder if he saw my car, because he just moved right on over, and there I was in the passenger seat, with that behemoth inches from the side of my car.

I was screaming, then the idiot moved that big rig right up in front of my car with millimeters to spare. Needless to say, I was white knuckled all the way home. My heart, so soon declared okay, was thumping and fluttering wildly. Life comes out of left field and sucker punches you doesn't it? You never know when you're gonna be done in.

susil