Richard Rowson's tribute to his anaesthetist

At the age of 44, I had an adverse reaction to a dental anaesthetic which resulted in a hospital visit and side effects which went on for months.  Eight years later it happened again.  Imagine then my state of mind when I found it necessary to undergo a radical prostatectomy at the age of 61.

With Peter Amoroso, the anaesthetist, I discovered a common passion for Italy.  Before the operation my last awareness was him telling me to think of my favourite Umbrian landscape and asking if my face was twitching yet.  The next I remember was thinking that my significant other (to use a ghastly but politically correct expression), Julian, would be visiting after the operation, and that I should make up a nonsense rhyme to amuse him.  (As this is not how I normally greet him I ascribe this thought to the effect of an Amoroso cocktail on a logical mind).  During the post-op 8-10 hours I drifted luxuriously in and out of sleep, enjoying the caress of the automatic foot massage, the gentle squeeze of the blood pressure monitor and the quiet and caring attention of Libby.  I felt thoroughly pampered and happy.  But I also managed to complete the sextet, and when Julian arrived the next morning I greeted him with:
  Richard Rowson

     Don't dote on the goat,
     Don't emote over the stoat
     Animal passion.
     Is out of fashion
     Human reason,
     Is now in season.

Since I am a philosopher and spend most of my time exploring the strengths and weaknesses of logical thinking, these sentiments gave him confidence that I was back on track.  When Peter Amoroso called the next morning I told him I had had one of the most enjoyable nights of my life.

Amazingly since then, it is now three weeks since the operation.  I have not had a moment's pain, and I have not had any painkillers since coming home.  Whatever the Amoroso cocktail is, it does its stuff.  And it has a liberating effect on a logical mind.