Open hearts

I saw my first open-heart surgery the other day.

A congenial old man, on the rotund side, was in for a "triple bypass." Well aquainted with the medical system, he appeared quite relaxed. We talked about the usual pre-operative subjects. I listened carefully to his heart, and as usual, heard only the soothing "lub-dub, lub-dub."

Minutes later, I put him to asleep. Then there was some cutting, and then a quick zip with a modified jigsaw. Et viola! The surgeon was holding this man's beating heart in his hands.

I don't know which was more mind-blowing: that a live man's beating heart was in the surgeon's hands, or that, at that moment, the surgeon was conversing with the nurse about sushi...