AUG 17, 17 .. THE GAME IS SACRED .. THE GAME HAS RULES

I once read, this would have been back in the mid-1950’s, an article titled.. The Ten Commandments of Sports.

I tried to bring this article up on Google and failed miserably. Yes, there most certainly are many writings by this title, but I could not find the one I was looking for. One of its commandments was.. Thou Shalt Honor The Game. The philosophy behind this commandment was that participants must rise above the possible angst-of-a-moment during a game. Not to spoil or sully the game with ugly moments. Like THE Ten Commandments, few seem to live up to this one. There is a lot of poor sportsmanship visible in many games.

To Honor The Game one has to Honor The Rules.

One of the rules in baseball is this : The batter gets three (3) strikes.

Like many rules, this is not as clear as it seems because of foul balls.

When the batter has two (2) strikes, the batter can remain-alive-at-the-plate by ‘fouling off’ pitches.

THE GAME .. INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL

No matter how I try to cut-the-cake..

Last November 25th, in the Dubai Airport, when I fell and broke-my-left-hip, flew to Mayo Clinic, had hip replacement surgery, STRIKE ONE was called on me. Pure and simple. No argument with the ‘Ref’ on the call.

This week, beginning on Monday, when I did not feel well, continuing into Tuesday when I made the decision to cancel my trip to visit Irkutsk in Russian Siberia, went to the medical clinic and hospital, saw a doctor, was examined hands-on and by ultrasound and CT Scan, and yesterday Wednesday received news that I have possible kidney cancer, STRIKE TWO was resoundingly called on me.

The first of the building blocks necessary for me to return to the United States and on to the Mayo Clinic Rochester Minnesota, has been set.

I have a paid-in-full ticket to fly from Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, to Hong Kong, on Thursday, the 24th of August.

It was the very earliest flight I could get on Mongolian Airlines. This is the end of the High Summer Visitor Season and airline seats are difficult to find.

This brings into sharp focus the fact that, in terms of International Travel, the further you get from having just one flight home (were I in Hong Kong I would have just one flight home) the more challenging it will be should you encounter a major crisis and need to and want to get home.

Think of being in Ulan-Ude or Irkutsk Russian Siberia. First getting back here to Mongolia. Then to Hong Kong. Then to the U.S. I had no indecision or reservations about cancelling my trip to Irkutsk (due to happen tomorrow) the 18th of August.

Today’s Rhetorical Question :

1. Do I have only one strike left? That being the notorious, STRIKE THREE YOU ARE OUT !!  Or..
2. Am I now going to be in a ‘I can foul off a few pitches on the pitcher to gain some time’.

This is germane because, as recently as a few hours ago, I called Patti and told Patti that I was going to have a little chit-chat with my doctor about the fact that today, this morning, I am feeling just great, and was wondering IF all that had happened was I passed a kidney stone and if so, I was going to cancel my return flight.

Would the below series of events happen in the United States health care system?

1. I called my SOS Medica Mongolia Clinic here in Ulaanbaatar. An operator answered saying that the office opens at 9am. She asked my name. Said that yes my doctor would be in today and told me someone would call me.
2. Within a few minutes, my nurse from Tuesday, called me saying she was still at home, asked my concern, and she would look into it immediately when she got into the clinic.
3. In short order I then, here at home, received a call from my doctor.

I said to my doctor : “IF I had a kidney stone and it passed, would that show in new Ultrasound or CT Scan procedures?”

My unspoken agenda to my doctor was simple : I am not ready.. I do NOT want.. to leave Mongolia. IF all there-was-to-this-drama was a kidney stone, let’s do some more investigating to see if the passage of a mere kidney stone was the issue, then I am staying.

My doctor said : “The CT Scan showed NO KIDNEY STONES !!”

STRIKE THREE on that theory Captain. You Are Out.

IF you want to see a fun post, go to:

http://bobbacaps.blogspot.com/2017/08/aug-17-17-from-ulaanbaatar-mongolia.html

So?

I am firmly intending to use my paid-in-full Mongolian Airlines Ticket and to leave Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, and fly to Hong Kong next Thursday morning the 24th of August.

Have some fun. Click on the above link.

Thanks so much for you interest here.

Cap

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