I met a man on the street last night, said his name was Jesus....( apologies to Big and Rich)

There was a man today, who had just come from having a heart catheterization - which is NOT a comfortable procedure, despite the anesthetics. He was tired and uncomfortable, in spite of the pain medication. He was lying flat on his back, waiting for his body to get back to some semblance of normal, when I walked in to talk to him about his diabetes. Unfortunately, he said come in when I knocked, and I spent about 30 seconds introducing myself before he interrupted to let me know he was using the urinal. We need an "occupied" sign on the doors....

Anyway, when I went back in, he introduced himself and said "what a smile!" He has that look in his eyes like a man who has charmed his way out of a lot.

Then we talked about his health, his heart, his lifestyle. He has a wild streak, but he was blessed with a wonderful wife who will give him a scoop of ice cream if he has done well with his diet all day. She came along when he was suffering as a result of losing so many brothers in Vietnam. His eyes welled up as he recounted the men he had gone to high school with - how he lost them - and then himself for many years. He said that their paths never should have crossed, he a gun-toting gambler and her a Southern christian lady. But they did. The joy as he extolled the virtues of having someone who loves you at home was one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen - his face was illuminated and his eyes glistened as he spoke of her. He said " I never lie to her. I do stupid things, but I never lie to her."

And he told me that I was lucky. That there are so many women who never find a good man - or spend their lives struggling with a man who doesn't really love them. I am supposed to go home and tell my husband how lucky I am . Hopefully, he already does, but just in case, I'll do what he says.

You never know when an angel will pose as a cute little old man, just so you'll shut up and listen for a minute.