(Note: To protect my friend's name and home I am not using such personal data in this post.)
One night last week I went to a friend's house for a meeting of a group we belong to. It was a nice evening, the sun was moving into the West and I was looking forward to being with friends and exchanging stories about what we did while threatened by Hurricane Irma. I had gone north and visited my son and daughter in law in Virginia.
When I arrived at my friend's house there were no lights on in the house and no other cars around. I thought this was strange because a couple of people always show up early and help set up the refreshment table. I went to the porch and tried the door. On meeting nights the door is unlocked and you enter, sit on a bench and remove your shoes. The door was locked.
Hmmm. On the wall to the right of the door was a bell. Beneath the bell was the word "ring." A bit of overkill, I laughed: everybody knows what to do with a bell. I pushed the button and heard a bit of a chime. In a few seconds, my friend said, "Hello."
"Hi, friend. This is Archie and I am outside on the porch and here for the meeting." I assumed my friend was inside and talking to me through a speaker.
"The meeting was canceled a couple of days ago."
"I've been gone and missed the message."
"I am in the hospital, had a heart attack and am going to be here for a few more days."
"IN THE HOSPITAL, right now? Where?"
"In downtown Charleston."
"You are in a hospital in downtown Charleston, and I am on your porch 15 miles away and we are talking like you are inside the house?"
"Yes."
Did I mention my friend is an electrical engineer?
