By Luba Estes

Thursday

I thought that I would let you know a semi amusing reason why I’m writing to you.

I nearly telephoned you for help around 8pm last night.

Reason: Ron had an oral surgeon remove 3 teeth under heavy anesthesia at 3pm yesterday. When it was over, he was brought home while still asleep … he was really out of it. He was brought to our bedroom and was placed on top of our bed … I was told not to bother undressing him, just let him recover.

My daughter, Kiki, had stayed with me at the dental office during the procedure and followed us to the apt … She and I watched Ron for a while, then I suggested that she should go home to have dinner with Carl, her husband.

Soon after Kiki left … Ron began to stir, first slowly … he was very groggy. Then gradually he became very agitated. He started to hallucinate that he was in Korea as a marine, as indeed he had been in Korea.

He wanted to get off the bed … I sat on the edge blocking him … he wanted me to get out of the way … he mumbled a lot about leadership … ammunition and a lot I couldn’t understand. His daughter Valerie telephoned from Virginia and talked to him assuring him that he was at home … that gave me a break … but after her call, he pointed to the other bed (twin beds pushed together) something about wanting to talk to the marine sitting there … pointing he said, “Don’t you see him?” … Ron continued mumbling critically about leadership and probably reliving the horrors of dead marines right next to him.

The danger for him to get off the bed could have been disastrous. He started battling and struggling with me to get me out of the way … I was not strong enough to subdue him … It was hard to reach the telephone … but I managed to call Kiki … she was out … In Allegro, I could have buzzed a bell, but after 5 or 6pm they would have called 911. That means an ambulance and fire truck would be sent.

Men we know in Allegro would not be of help.

My next thought was Marsh Creek? … someone fit and strong and a good friend … Brian Nelson!

While all these thoughts were going through my mind, I was fighting a marine in Korea! And trying to find Brian’s telephone number.

Then Kiki telephoned … whew … and both she and Carl came. They took over and Kiki was totally in charge.

After they left, the anesthesia was wearing off and very carefully I let Ron get up and go to the living room to sit on his recliner. He was hungry, I gave him some cottage cheese and a small glass of sweet ice tea.

Ron remained sitting on the recliner for the couple of hours remaining … to sleep. This marine was now aware that he was home, but he remembered nothing … except the beginning of his dental appointment.

I was exhausted after participating in a physical struggle and staying up all night. I decided to sleep for a couple hours until 10:30 am.

When I woke up and looked at Ron, I said, “Semper Fi, Marine”.

Late Thursday Night Postscript

Well Ron is himself today. It was a strange episode. As for me, I’m looking forward to a normal night.

Luba