this is basically a miracle.  So when you’re sitting there (A) - in a helluva lot of pain and (B) - you sort of think it was bound to happen at some point.  It’s not good timing but it certainly could be worse.  And I look at it from a different perspective, just from the curve ball of my life and what my health has thrown me in the past.  Lying in that ditch with a broken collarbone was a lot better than other health scares I’ve had. 

How did you choose this surgeon?

LA: It’s a pretty well-known practice here in town.  Obviously we looked at places all around the country.  Dr. Heiden in Salt Lake City is an old friend of mine.  But I wanted to come home and do the surgery here.  These guys have an outstanding reputation.  I know people who have had work done there and quite frankly I don’t think it’s an overly-complicated procedure although it did just become a little more complicated in the last hour.  I think it’s pretty straight forward.

What will the doctors be doing tomorrow?

LA: Surgery at 7AM, which will take 2-3 hours depending on what he sees.  Then I’ll be home tomorrow afternoon. 

Will you spend the recovery period in Austin?

LA: I’ll spend the 72 hours here, and my son has the pine wood derby in 10 days so I want to be here for that, so we’ll see after that.