I accidentally watched TV tonight.. Actually, I was eating dinner.. and there was a TV within eye shot.. so I could not look away. Even though I was having a great work talk with my buddy Tony, I could not shut out the stream of images that came over the tube.. I never can. The sound was off, thankfully, but over dinner I saw images of a fatal drug bust, and the grieving families, I saw the story of the young black man shot by a vigilante in Florida. I saw his grieving dad… at that and had to stop our conversation and sit for a bit. I also saw today about Dick Cheney’s heart transplant.. I’d seen it a few days back as well, and hadn’t commented on it.

Every time I hear of an organ transplant I have to stop and take a breath. hearing the recipient’s story is always easier.. but I know that hard duality that one persons best day.. is another family’s worst.
Still I have to say that despite what bad political feelings I may have had (or still have) for Cheney I was only happy for him. The internet abounds this week with tongue-in-cheek comment about Cheney’s change of heart.. but who knows.. a man living with that much pain and uncertainty would have surly carried emotional baggage. Perhaps that baggage manifest in a dark and mean world view.. .. maybe a fresh chance at life will mellow the man.. One thing I should add here is that the mechanical left ventricular assist device (LVAD) that kept Cheney alive these past several years is exactly the model that my brother used to fashion the world first non pulsating total artificial heart. .. interesting coincidence.. no ? .
What really made me happy though was the attention that his transplant will bring to the issue of organ donation. Say what you will of the man, he’s now a walking advertisement for life’s greatest gift.. Since Sam became a donor, I’ve used every chance I could to advocate for organ donation. What really helps is when a more visible person has a chance to do the same. I’m hoping that Cheney will join with other well known folks like Dave Crosby and Phil Lesh and make donor awareness a personal cause.. (Now there’s a trio I’d like to see play together) .
So congratulations Mr. Cheney .. i’m glad you have a new lease on life.. I hope you use it well.. And my heart goes out to the donor and his or her family.

nite all, nite sam
-me