Dicktionary Term 09.09

Yesterday, talking to my mom on the telephone, she told me that Dad's cell-phone-buddy, Dick B's son was in a motorcycle wreck on his way to work. She said that Dad was on the phone with Dick B when his other son, Dickie, beeped in and told Dick B about the wreck.

It's actually Dick Bertlesen, but we have always called him Dick B. Dick B. and Dad, Dick Rudloff, both worked together at PDC. Hence, Dick B. and Dad was Dick R. So there is no confusion in Mom's life, whenever Dad gets her a card, no matter the occassion, he never fails to sign it, "Love You, Dick R." I guess this distinguishes him from all the other Dicks in her life...like there are so many, anyway....

I called my Dad between jobs yesterday and inquired about Chad Bertlesen (man, I hope I got the boys' names straight). "Well, he was comin' around a curve and a truck pulling a trailer was in on-coming traffic and the trailer broke away and hit Chad head-on."

This doesn't sound very good. "How is he?"

"Well, Dick B said that Chad flipped his bike over the trailer and flew through the air. He's scraped-up, skinned-up, and he injured his aortitis."

I did my usual split-second rundown of what this injury could possibly be. I drew a blank. Blinking hard, I said, "Aortitis?"

"Yeah."

Itis=inflammation
Aorta=has to do with the heart, right? It's like a chamber in the heart, isn't it???

"He bruised his heart?"

"Noooooo...." long pause inserted here...."Maybe I screwed that up."

No, Dad, that's just not possible..."Well, that just doesn't sound like a motorcycle injury to me..."

"I'll ask Dick B again when he calls back. I'll ask him again" You can set your watch by Dick B calling back. These two talk on the phone for HOURS a day. Dick B drives over-the-road, and Dad helps map him out along the way, following along with his atlas. Surely there's some sort of GPS out there that Dick B can buy for his truck so Dad can follow along on his computer, thereby possibly freeing up both hands of one truck driver on the interstate...I mean, don't you think that's one vehicle you'd want BOTH hands on the wheel??? Yeah. Me, too.

Last night was Molly Kathlene's 21st birthday and we all met at Bar Louie to celebrate. We met early so there's a good chance Molly will remember who her guests were....

I sat down at the table and Dad blurts out, "Sternum!"

I leaned over to Mom and said, "Huh?"

"Sternum!" He repeats. "Chad hurt his sternum."

This isn't even close. Usually his new terms are at least remotely close. Almost decipherable. But, sternum? Aortitis????