I visited my Dad in hospital today, he was due to have a pretty standard operation to remove a gall stone by keyhole surgery. They didn't manage to get it out in the way they hoped, so he now has a large scar across his stomach and another belly button. The anaesthetic dosing machine broke down mid operation and the anesthetist had to administer the gases by hand or something, so I don't think it all went as smoothly as he hoped.
Anyway I found it so difficult visiting him in hospital, I only stayed 15 minutes yet it took me an hour to drive each way. Mostly because he wasn't really up for visitors but also because I found it odd. It's as though you have an image of your Dad as an invincible being, always there steady as a rock. Then you see him vunerable in his pyjamas on a drip with oxygen and tubes and monitors attached.
Though he'll be out at the weekend, looking forward to seeing him enjoying a bottle of wine with his feet up watching the telly.