In Which We Learn That Mike Russo, Our Pal & Fellow Board Member, is Tougher Than Tough

Woo-hoo! Fishmugger is back in the swing of things!

Those Jersey boys sure are tough. I got proof of that yet again yesterday.

So there I was Wednesday afternoon, recuperating from several days' worth of deadline intensity, when I noticed I had a phone message. I dialed in to hear the familiar upbeat voice of my buddy Mike Russo, AKA Fishmugger, AKA one of my stalwart fellow board members at Cooking With the Troops. Mike didn't sound entirely like himself - I couldn't put my finger on it - but his words were cheerful, as always.

At the end of the message Mike said, more quietly: "Oh, I have some news. I wanted you to hear it directly from me."

I called him right away.

A couple minutes into our chat, Mike offhandedly said: "I wanted you to know. On Friday, I had a stroke."

Say what?

Yes, I'd heard correctly. Five days prior, Fishmugger had felt the well known symptoms of a cerebrovascular accident, and decided to "call someone," who urged him to travel with haste to an emergency room. He went via car. 

In the e.r., the docs confirmed that Mike had indeed experienced a stroke, and that he needed to stay in the hospital a couple days.

"And now I'm home!"

I quizzed him rather aggressively, but he brushed off my concern.

"I'm fine," Mike insisted. "Perfectly fine."

And indeed Mike went on to assure me that he very much wanted to drive from New Jersey to Virginia this weekend to join the Gang of Reprobates at a riverside wingding. But Mike's calendar is full. "I've got a fishing trip to Florida!" 

Well, now. He's going fishing a week after having a stroke? Yep. He's going fishing, a week after having a stroke.

I half expect Mike to show up dockside atop the lead Beluga on a whale migration while the Reprobates and I are drinking buttermilk and feeding the ducks at our wingding. In case Mike gets sidetracked chasing mermaids while in Florida, though... 

I'd like everyone to join me in sending Mike every best wish and prayer for continued good health. Oh, and this is for Fishie: Don't scare us like that again, okay?