"They took my mother's stomach out six months ago. At that point, there wasn't a lot left to remove—they had already taken out (I would use the medical terms here if I knew them)

the rest of it about a year before" (3).

"When my father was in intensive care, about a day and a half from throwing in the towel, a priest was sent, presumably to administer last rites. After meeting him and ascertaining the purpose of the visit, my father quickly dismissed him, sent him out. When the doctor related this story later—it had become something of a legend on the floor—he made reference to the axiom that denies the existence of atheists in the proverbial trenches: 'They say there are no atheists in the trenches,' the doctor said, looking at the floor, 'but...whew!'" (36).

"I should work out...