Under The Knife

Have you ever had surgery? What for?

I’ve enjoyed the sterile ambiance of a hospital’s Operating Theater a few times.

The first was when I was about four maybe a bit later. I had a large abscess on the side of my neck, that they had to drain, and pack so it would heal from the inside out. I still have that scar.

The second time was having my tonsils removed. That was pretty standard back then. I was somewhere around I-was-to-young-to-remember-now age. I would guess about six. It wasn’t traumatic. Yes, I did get ice cream.

There were two more times.

November 12, 1999 I had a disk removed from my neck. I remember a bit too much of that one. They did not quite administer the anesthesia correctly, and I became aware of being operated on while being operated on. That was a very interesting existential experience. Some might call it an NDE. I tend to call it a night paralysis with a twist. The panic attack one can have while one is being cut on while serenaded by the Beach Boys can definitely lead one to a completely altered state. It does take the body a while to forget that assault.

In February 2017, I had another disk removed. Once you lose one the others begin to go.

Fun times! Fun times, all the way around. I am still breathing, writing, and trying to slightly annoy authority, so I guess everything is well according to plan.