Mid-Summer Waning Garlic Moon
The ritual masters of the American medical system had us rising with the sun at 5:00 am for the Admittance to the Hospital ceremony, then the Cutting of the Flesh. By getting us up at a time far earlier than our usual 7:00-7:30 we knew this was a magical moment. We proceeded through the rush hour traffic to Fairview University where attendants took our vehicle away, out of view. After appeasing the money changers, Kate received the ritual accessories, bracelets of varying colors including one with the mystical words: Fall Prevention.
They came for her, the blue-gowned deacons of this mega-church, and led her away where her clothes were removed and hidden away. She received a lavender gown of paper, marking her as the morning’s sacrifice. The high priest and his acolyte came in to see her and the acolyte initialed her thigh so the Cutting of the Flesh would be done in a way approved of by the medical gods.
As in many ancient rituals, Kate received a powerful drug that made her smile and seem goofy just before the blue-gowned ones wheeled her away to the secret chapels where the High Priests work their magic.
Satisfied that the gods had received the offerings of insurance and accepted them, I left for home.