Well, 2 years ago was the day I lay on the operating table while the cardiologist stuffed a camera in the artery right next to the family jewels.

I had enough Fentanyl where I could only scream in my mind's eye.

It was about 11 o'clock on Monday morning and I had been sick since Saturday while I was on the treadmill - it had been 3 days. There I was without a cell phone, or glasses - not even a pair of underwear - all of which I had when I had gotten to the ER prior to the ambulance ride.

I was glad to see my wife. The cardiologist told her that I would make it.

My internal dialog was like a psychedelic 60's tune at times. Time was warped, hearing what was being said was a chore. I scanned my body trying to gather data from various extremities. In the midst, I felt God's peace. I didn't know what life was going to be like, but I was glad I still had it, although; I was close to wishing it away not long before.

I had a lot of time to think while I was in ICU. My world flipped from Fox News, to a short discussion with the nurse or doctor, to Oprah, and then brief update on Facebook and a nap.

How was all this going to turn out, I thought?

I had given up on sweating the small stuff like the mortgage and the job so I could be with my family when they arrived. Each day I just wanted things to go back to normal, to be in my own home, to sleep in my own bed and God I wanted clean underwear!

I came home at the end of the week and stood in my bedroom and cried. I took a shower and had a nap.

That first night I woke up at dawn coughing and feeling like I was drowning from the fluid in my lungs. I tired to get comfortable, and then I started having chest pains again. I had my wife take me to the ER.

Another X-ray, more blood tests, more crazy heart enzymes, another EKG, more nurses, more doctors, and more beeping monitors. The only distraction from all of that was the woman who died in the next bay from a heart attack. Her family was devastated. Then it all settled down, and after seeing the cardiologist, they sent me home again.

My friends came to visit after church on Sunday and we walked 2 houses to the lake and back. I was so tired I had to go to bed. (Actually the Bruins were in the midst of winning the Stanley Cup and I wanted to watch the game.)

Today I am grateful for how far I have come. I survived two more surgeries since then as well as a few running injuries - and I am still at this thing we call life.

Thanks for the votes and the comments.