Returning down memory lane, my husband had many interesting moments when he was in the advertising business.  He did almost everything, from a trip deep into the Wind River Mountains on horseback to flying into a remote lake in Alaska for the sake of getting photographs to sell ammunition. Those stories will come later.  Today I’m going to focus on the one that placed him the operating room of one of the early open heart surgeries.

He went through the entire process of scrubbing, donning surgical garb, getting the photographer in place and directing him where and when to take the picture. Classical music began to permeate the sterile environment as the surgical team entered the room.  They proceeded discussing last night’s opera performance and some other personal conversation, while the patient was wheeled in on a gurney.

The anesthesiologist administered the anesthetic. Music continued to swell as the patient drifted off to dream land.  The first incision was made as small talk continued.  Paul followed the procedure with great interest.

One of his earliest childhood dreams was to be a doctor.  He might have even recalled the day he did surgery on a frog, along with his best friend.  They didn’t have any anesthetic, but a small bonk on the head put the amphibian out of commission long enough to feel no pain.  The purpose of the surgery was to see how all those vital organs worked on a living thing.  During that process, the frog awoke.  Another bonk on the head enabled them to sew the poor critter back up again.  They did get a good look, the frog lived to tell his friends about his adventure, but he had a terrific headache.  I’m certain PITA would be all over him for this.

Back to the open heart surgery.  Since this was the first time the  surgeon had implanted one of these medical devices, he pulled out the brochure and began to check his work.  He asked Paul if he had pit it in right and Paul replied that he was only the Creative Director.  That surgery was successful, in spite of the confusion.

This is just one more example of the creative nature of my husband and his ability to try new things.  He truly is a Jack of all trades.