Today’s morning smoke break was an exercise in striking the balance of judiciousness and decency.  A noticeably handsome man of a distinguished age was standing in the shelter having a conversation with his co-worker (female) about hospital stays and medical problems. Thinking nothing of it, I sat down and tinkered away at my SideKick.

Readers, I think confidence is sexy.   I enjoy frank talk from people who are passionate about the subject matter.  Stitches this, scar tissue that, adhesions, blah, blah, blah.  I wasn’t in tune to the conversation, until I saw the older gentleman gesture to his crotch.  My eyes wandered away from my SideKick and up to the chatting couple who didn’t notice me intent on the conversation.

I learned that the man had a botched hernia operation a while back.  For the last ten years he’s been trudging along with a mass of scar tissue which impended his urinary tract and libido.  He went on further to say that he had recently sought a second opinion which lead to another surgery to remove the scar tissue and rebuild some fascia that had fallen.  He noted that the surgery had been a success and proclaimed that the first time he had used the toilet he said aloud “This is the best piss I’ve had in ten years.”  I thought… is this confidence?… is this sexy?

Not being privy to the genesis of this conversation or the nature of the couples’ professional relationship, I sat there stunned. How long do you have to work with someone before you share a conversation like that?  If one eventually does reach that level of joviality in their workplace, when is it appropriate to talk about your prostate functions?  Kudos to you, confident older gentleman – because I sure don’t have the balls to do what you did.