HAPPY First Birthday and Good morning my DU family,

[JMCKUSICK]

Well well well, here we are.

One year ago today at this hour I was headed west to Barnes Jewish Hospital to have a quadruple bypass done.

What I remember the most about that morning, was the peace I felt knowing you were there with me and I was able to take the most wonderful advice I may have ever gotten. You told me to go in with a grateful heart and that I did.

( A funny side note about that morning, the pajama pants I wore that morning were way too big and fell down a couple of times from the parking garage to the surgery desk 😂

So many of you went with me that day, just like you've walked with me for this amazing year since.

It's only right that as I celebrate a year of life I had no right to expect, that I do so with gratitude.

Thank you all for honoring me with your grace, kindness, love, embrace, support and affirmation.

Please give us a day filled with opportunities to reflect in gratitude, to experience the awe and power of community, and the uplifting power of love.

Have a Tony The Tiger day today. (It's gonna be GREAT!)

Thank you thank you thank you DU,
Love, John

[SheltieLover]

1. Wow, John, a year already?

Time does fly, doesn't it?

Easy for me to say since it was you who had to do the rehab...

Happy New Year!

[JMCKUSICK]

11. What a process that was lol

Thank you SheltieLover.

[SheltieLover]

20. I'll bet!

Now you have a new lease on life!

[Walleye]

2. Congratulations on your bonus year of life. I have been alive 77 years today.

77. It’s an awkward age for a young girl. Have a great day.

[Scrivener7]

5. Is today your birthday too? Happy birthday! It's a party in here!

[Walleye]

8. Yep, this old woman is a year older, unbelievable

Pisces on the cusp of Aquarius, very screwed up

[Scrivener7]

25. Happy birthday! All the water signs are OK with me!

[Walleye]

27. Thank you. Pisces is tough those two fish swim in different directions

[debm55]

9. Happy Birthday, Walleye.

[Walleye]

24. Thank you !same to you

[JMCKUSICK]

13. Happy birthday Walleye

I hope you're in great shape and have many more.

[Walleye]

23. Thank you, feeling a little old this morning, but no major problems

[SheltieLover]

21. Happy Birthday!

🎉🍰🎂

[Walleye]

22. Thank you!

[Emile]

3. Good Morning John

[JMCKUSICK]

14. Thank you Emile, I think I will lol.

[Scrivener7]

4. Good morning, and happy birthday!! May you have many more and each one happier than the last.

[JMCKUSICK]

15. Hi Scrivener7, thank you!

[OldBaldy1701E]

6. I feel you on that.

Just over five years ago, I was having some chest tightness. Not pain, not anything other than the fact that, on most days, I would get this while riding my bike, and I would have to stop and rest for a moment. I went to the doctor, and they scheduled a stress test. I went, but had an episode while doing the test. I then was told to come back in a week and we would try it again. I arrived, but they did not do a stress test. They did an EKG. And, they checked me into the hospital that afternoon and scheduled a angioscopy for 8 a.m. the next morning.

They did so, and after a few hours they got the results. I was scheduled for a quad bypass the next morning at 6 a.m.. Within 43 hours, I went from a simple stress test to having quadruple bypass surgery.

Although in my case, I feel that it was a waste of time and resources, I am glad that you are celebrating a successful surgery and a new lease on life.

Happy 'first' birthday!

[JMCKUSICK]

16. Good morning OldBaldy1701

I for one am thrilled you got those resources and those extra give years and counting.
I know you lean towards darkness more than light heartedness, but I love seeing you post.

You also for some weird reason give me the most amazing dejavu about times I spent around White Bear Ave on the east side of St Paul, MN which is part of the 1700 block it I remember correctly. My life for a year or so at 14 or 15 years old revolved around many places along that ave, so thanks a million for the memories. (I was a troubled youth at the time)

[lark]

7. Happy first birthday!

So glad you had the surgery so you can still be with us!!

[JMCKUSICK]

17. Me too Lark, thank you.

[debm55]

10. Dear John, Happy first Birthday , my friend. I remember that day. I am so glad you are here, my friend. Love, deb.

[JMCKUSICK]

18. Of course you remember that day Debbie,

You were the conduit that transmitted all the updates while it was going on, for which I'm still so indebted to you.

You bring so much joy to all of us, it may as well have been your manifest destiny to share my successful outcome here.

I love you too!

[debm55]

26. Thank you John.

[Nanuke]

12. Congratulations John. You are an inspiration to us.

[JMCKUSICK]

19. Hi Nanuke,

Getting ready to write you, I hope all is well and thank you eternally for helping make this year so incredibly special.

[1WorldHope]

28. What a lovely post. I am so glad you got to come out on the other side.

I had a bad year in 2018. I thought I would never recover when I was in the midst of it. Today, I have my strength back and I am so grateful.
So happy birthday to you John and keep spreading the Love. 🪷