This is supposedly the most frequently used doctor joke: A man goes to the doctor for a checkup. The doctor comes in with a very serious look on his face. "I have some bad news and some worse news," the doctor says. "Oh no," says the man. "Well, give me the bad news first." "The bad news is you only have 24 hours to live." "That's terrible!" the man cries. "What could possibly be worse?" "I forgot to call you yesterday," the doctor says.

Good morning and welcome to another day here in the neighborhood, on this Tuesday, October 21, 2025. I am just back from my regular six month visit with my pulmonologist. He and I get along well. He is treating me for asthma. I told him I didn't know I had asthma until he started treating me for it, and, since he told me to use the inhaler as needed, well, it hasn't been used a lot. He told me that he was pretty sure he was the only one in the room, it was just he and I, that had a license to diagnose asthma. He went on to say that I may have a license to practice Santa Claus, he was the one who was entitled to practice medicine. (I wanted to tell him it was high time he quit practicing because at his age he should know how by now but it didn't seem the right time for that particular joke.) Oh well, I have asthma and he gave me some breathing exercises to do every morning. We also talked about why it is that I am unable to utilize my C/PAP machine. I need a mask that works. Period. I showed him a full face mask that is supposed to accommodate people with beards, ho, ho, ho. He said just because they say that it doesn't mean it will do what it claims to do. He referred me to Robert one of the sleep technicians. I know Robert. He is a good guy. I will talk to him mostly about why my insurance most likely will not cover the mask I found, but, I intend on getting it and trying it even if I have to pay for it. The doctor told me after all is said and done it was still a free country and I could get one and try it regardless of what I find out. See there. We still do have some rights in this land of the free and home of the brave. But, of course, I still owe the co-pay. Do we live in a great country or what?

 

For the record, one more time, I have great medical care and I appreciate all the doctors who have helped and continue to help me keep this 79 year-plus journey going. As we prepare to get ready to prepare for the upcoming Santa season I am always a wee bit leery of dealing with The Suit. It weighs a lot. The boots are heavy. The belt is heavy. It provides the stimulant for the production of a lot of body heat. I know. There are lighter alternatives and different styles, but, we've done our best over the years to preserve the all American version, no, not the one from images of St. Nicholas or from the great Christmas story, "Twas the Night Before Christmas", but, rather we go with the, drum roll please: The one and only Coca-Cola Santa! The one that made his entrance in 1931. Let's hear it for good old American commercialism! I've thought about other alternatives but my Mrs. Claus is adamant about keeping this tradition going. Dealing with all that goes into portraying these Christmas characters, I can tell you this. If you do it from the heart and put your all into it, while you may leave feeling close to exhaustion, you never forget the joy and happy time memories you have helped to make with boys and girls of all ages. With that, I bid each one of you, "Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!" And, may God add His blessings. Amen.