Blue Hyacinths

Dear Diary:

I was scheduled to have hip surgery. When the day came, off I went to NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital. My husband phoned to say he would be there the minute I came out of surgery.

“What shall I bring” he asked?

“Please bring me blue hyacinths,” I said. I thought of the flowers the whole time I was being wheeled into the operating theater and while I was disappearing into the anesthetic.

Later, I was in the recovery room. I heard what seemed like entire Beethoven symphonies in my head. I heard the nurses talking, but I wasn’t able to join the conversation. In my mind, I saw the blue hyacinths.

When I regained full consciousness, I found that I really just wanted the comfort of my husband being there.