Two anniversaries in one week. I mentioned my wedding anniversary. The other one I celebrated with my friend Ray Mendez. We do this every year. Have lunch with one another and scratch our left ear lobes.
“I’ve got more feeling in my mine,” I said. “How’s yours?”
He held his left ear lobe between his forefinger and thumb. “It’s okay,” he said. We both start laughing. A numb ear lobe is a small price to pay, and nobody but the two of us knows about this non-fatal flaw in each other.
Sixteen years ago, on the very same day, it was another picture. More people were worried than the two of us. We both had tumors that required surgery, his above his left ear, mine in my parotid gland behind my left ear. Ray’s operation that day was at a hospital uptown, I was at a hospital on 14th Street.
“I’ll be praying for you,” I told him back then, praying on my way into general anesthesia, praying that he would be well. I think the people who suffered the most through the whole ordeal were our wives. After the surgery Carol went out and bought a black dress, certain that she’d be a window in a matter of months.
But look at this. He’s well—well, except that ear lobe. And I’m well. The tumors were benign. That’s something to celebrate. So every year, even if everybody else has forgotten, we get together. I looked at him across the table at lunch last week and I thanked God for both of our good health. It’s so easy to take good health for granted. Sometimes it’s worth celebrating.
