Monday, July 20, 2015

A thing to remember after brain surgery

Richard Porter, a former fellow National Guard platoon sergeant, Sunday night mentioned something I did not remember, but which I wish I had used more.

About three months after I had surgery to fix a cerebral aneurysm in 1986, my mech infantry company underwent an inspection by battalion staff. A young captain came into my office, where Richard and I were having coffee. The captain said, “Sgt. Merriman, where would I find records on (some training event)?”

I allegedly replied, “I don’t know, Sir. I just had brain surgery.”

The captain said, “Oh, that’s right. I forgot. I apologize, Sgt. Merriman.” He left the office and had no more questions for me that inspection.

Later, I was like just about everybody else who has brain surgery – so intent on showing I could still do the job that I refused to recognize failings as caused by mental deficits. If I had remembered a simple sentence -- I don't know; I had brain surgery -- maybe I would have kept one or more of the jobs.


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