{"id":864,"date":"2015-01-06T19:59:08","date_gmt":"2015-01-07T01:59:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.extraterrestrialvisitor.com\/?p=864"},"modified":"2015-02-18T08:59:57","modified_gmt":"2015-02-18T14:59:57","slug":"puttin-on-the-ritz","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.extraterrestrialvisitor.com\/?p=864","title":{"rendered":"Puttin on the Ritz"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.extraterrestrialvisitor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/ritz.jpeg\"><img data-attachment-id=\"867\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.extraterrestrialvisitor.com\/?attachment_id=867\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.extraterrestrialvisitor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/ritz.jpeg?fit=300%2C168&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"300,168\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"ritz\" data-image-description=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.extraterrestrialvisitor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/ritz.jpeg?fit=300%2C168&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.extraterrestrialvisitor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/ritz.jpeg?fit=300%2C168&amp;ssl=1\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-867\" src=\"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.extraterrestrialvisitor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/ritz.jpeg?resize=300%2C168\" alt=\"ritz\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/a>I\u2019m nearing the beginning of a journey to death and new life. I\u2019m to have a bone marrow transplant in less than two weeks. They\u2019re gonna kill off most of my blood cells and then install new healthy cells from a donor. I guess you could say that I\u2019ll be re-born or born again.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Times have changed. You no longer need a God to bring you back to life. These days, all you need is good health insurance and a better doctor.<\/span><!--more--><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">In my case, I need a healthy, matched donor, too. I need their blood more than a vampire needs blood on a full moon. The transplant will recreate my blood using someone else\u2019s genetic code. Wow. Part of me is gone and part of me is new. I\u2019ll be twins. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Patients aren\u2019t told the identity of the donor. They remain unknown. If their identity is requested, sometimes they may consent.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>I have a reoccurring discussion with my doctor, who knows who the person is. I\u2019ll predict the race or nationality of my donor and then guess the traits that I will inherit from my new twin. Like enjoying a newfound fondness for rice, or maybe beans, dancing with soul, etc. I\u2019m sure you get it. He never gives me an answer, but I keep asking for hints to what amalgamated traits my new twin will leave me after my metamorphosis. <span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Sometimes I fear that I\u2019ll end up like the monster that Doctor Frankenstein created. My doctor is a brilliant young man who has a lot of experience in transplants. I doubt that I\u2019ll end up with raw stitches in my face or have bolts in my neck when he\u2019s done with me. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">There\u2019s a long list of post-op side effects that threaten me though. I won\u2019t bore you with them, but don\u2019t worry. There\u2019s no chance that I\u2019ll end up a dangerous homicidal maniac. So put away your torches and pitchforks.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">I hope to end up like the monster that Peter Boyle portrayed in Mel Brooks\u2019 <i>Young Frankenstein.<\/i> In the film, Doctor Frankenstein shares his successful experiment by dressing the monster in top hat and tails. The tuxedoed Doctor and the Monster perform a tap dance and duet of the song <i>Puttin on the Ritz<\/i> before an auditorium packed with medical and psychological experts. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">I\u2019ve started to memorize and rehearse the printed lyrics to the song. My plan is to perform it for my family when I return home, born again, in 8 weeks. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">My homecoming is sure to be the most fantastic and joyful event of either my past, or my new life. Just like Peter Boyle before me, I\u2019ll be Puttin on the Ritz!<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"sharedaddy sd-sharing-enabled\"><div class=\"robots-nocontent sd-block sd-social sd-social-icon-text sd-sharing\"><h3 class=\"sd-title\">Share this:<\/h3><div class=\"sd-content\"><ul><li class=\"share-email\"><a rel=\"nofollow\" data-shared=\"\" class=\"share-email sd-button share-icon\" href=\"https:\/\/www.extraterrestrialvisitor.com\/?p=864&amp;share=email\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Click to email this to a friend\"><span>Email<\/span><\/a><\/li><li class=\"share-print\"><a rel=\"nofollow\" data-shared=\"\" class=\"share-print sd-button share-icon\" href=\"https:\/\/www.extraterrestrialvisitor.com\/?p=864\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Click to print\"><span>Print<\/span><\/a><\/li><li class=\"share-facebook\"><a rel=\"nofollow\" data-shared=\"sharing-facebook-864\" class=\"share-facebook sd-button share-icon\" href=\"https:\/\/www.extraterrestrialvisitor.com\/?p=864&amp;share=facebook\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Click to share on Facebook\"><span>Facebook<\/span><\/a><\/li><li class=\"share-google-plus-1\"><a rel=\"nofollow\" data-shared=\"sharing-google-864\" class=\"share-google-plus-1 sd-button share-icon\" href=\"https:\/\/www.extraterrestrialvisitor.com\/?p=864&amp;share=google-plus-1\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Click to share on Google+\"><span>Google<\/span><\/a><\/li><li class=\"share-twitter\"><a rel=\"nofollow\" data-shared=\"sharing-twitter-864\" class=\"share-twitter sd-button share-icon\" href=\"https:\/\/www.extraterrestrialvisitor.com\/?p=864&amp;share=twitter\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Click to share on Twitter\"><span>Twitter<\/span><\/a><\/li><li class=\"share-pinterest\"><a rel=\"nofollow\" data-shared=\"sharing-pinterest-864\" class=\"share-pinterest sd-button share-icon\" href=\"https:\/\/www.extraterrestrialvisitor.com\/?p=864&amp;share=pinterest\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Click to share on Pinterest\"><span>Pinterest<\/span><\/a><\/li><li class=\"share-end\"><\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class='sharedaddy sd-block sd-like jetpack-likes-widget-wrapper jetpack-likes-widget-unloaded' id='like-post-wrapper-57887675-864-69d6a2ad2abf7' data-src='\/\/widgets.wp.com\/likes\/#blog_id=57887675&amp;post_id=864&amp;origin=www.extraterrestrialvisitor.com&amp;obj_id=57887675-864-69d6a2ad2abf7' data-name='like-post-frame-57887675-864-69d6a2ad2abf7'><h3 class=\"sd-title\">Like this:<\/h3><div class='likes-widget-placeholder post-likes-widget-placeholder' style='height: 55px;'><span class='button'><span>Like<\/span><\/span> <span class=\"loading\">Loading...<\/span><\/div><span class='sd-text-color'><\/span><a class='sd-link-color'><\/a><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>I\u2019m nearing the beginning of a journey to death and new life. I\u2019m to have a bone marrow transplant in less than two weeks. They\u2019re gonna kill off most of my blood cells and then install new healthy cells from &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.extraterrestrialvisitor.com\/?p=864\">Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"sharedaddy sd-sharing-enabled\"><div class=\"robots-nocontent sd-block sd-social sd-social-icon-text sd-sharing\"><h3 class=\"sd-title\">Share this:<\/h3><div class=\"sd-content\"><ul><li class=\"share-email\"><a rel=\"nofollow\" data-shared=\"\" class=\"share-email sd-button share-icon\" href=\"https:\/\/www.extraterrestrialvisitor.com\/?p=864&amp;share=email\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Click to email this to a friend\"><span>Email<\/span><\/a><\/li><li class=\"share-print\"><a rel=\"nofollow\" data-shared=\"\" class=\"share-print sd-button share-icon\" href=\"https:\/\/www.extraterrestrialvisitor.com\/?p=864\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Click to print\"><span>Print<\/span><\/a><\/li><li class=\"share-facebook\"><a rel=\"nofollow\" data-shared=\"sharing-facebook-864\" class=\"share-facebook sd-button share-icon\" href=\"https:\/\/www.extraterrestrialvisitor.com\/?p=864&amp;share=facebook\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Click to share on Facebook\"><span>Facebook<\/span><\/a><\/li><li class=\"share-google-plus-1\"><a rel=\"nofollow\" data-shared=\"sharing-google-864\" class=\"share-google-plus-1 sd-button share-icon\" href=\"https:\/\/www.extraterrestrialvisitor.com\/?p=864&amp;share=google-plus-1\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Click to share on Google+\"><span>Google<\/span><\/a><\/li><li class=\"share-twitter\"><a rel=\"nofollow\" data-shared=\"sharing-twitter-864\" class=\"share-twitter sd-button share-icon\" href=\"https:\/\/www.extraterrestrialvisitor.com\/?p=864&amp;share=twitter\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Click to share on Twitter\"><span>Twitter<\/span><\/a><\/li><li class=\"share-pinterest\"><a rel=\"nofollow\" data-shared=\"sharing-pinterest-864\" class=\"share-pinterest sd-button share-icon\" href=\"https:\/\/www.extraterrestrialvisitor.com\/?p=864&amp;share=pinterest\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Click to share on Pinterest\"><span>Pinterest<\/span><\/a><\/li><li class=\"share-end\"><\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class='sharedaddy sd-block sd-like jetpack-likes-widget-wrapper jetpack-likes-widget-unloaded' id='like-post-wrapper-57887675-864-69d6a2ad2c9f3' data-src='\/\/widgets.wp.com\/likes\/#blog_id=57887675&amp;post_id=864&amp;origin=www.extraterrestrialvisitor.com&amp;obj_id=57887675-864-69d6a2ad2c9f3' data-name='like-post-frame-57887675-864-69d6a2ad2c9f3'><h3 class=\"sd-title\">Like this:<\/h3><div class='likes-widget-placeholder post-likes-widget-placeholder' style='height: 55px;'><span class='button'><span>Like<\/span><\/span> <span class=\"loading\">Loading...<\/span><\/div><span class='sd-text-color'><\/span><a class='sd-link-color'><\/a><\/div>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[7,1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.extraterrestrialvisitor.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/864"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.extraterrestrialvisitor.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.extraterrestrialvisitor.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.extraterrestrialvisitor.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.extraterrestrialvisitor.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=864"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.extraterrestrialvisitor.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/864\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":878,"href":"https:\/\/www.extraterrestrialvisitor.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/864\/revisions\/878"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.extraterrestrialvisitor.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=864"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.extraterrestrialvisitor.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=864"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.extraterrestrialvisitor.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=864"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}