Well, I went online and found that Amtrak still had seats out of Longview, and even a compartment coming back.

So I called my mother and said: I know you do not want me driving with the bad weather. I know you do not want me flying. If I can cover everything and get a train ticket, do you want me coming or would it be an added burden?

She almost started crying (unusual for my mom) and said yes, she wanted me there.

The secretary said she would see to it that my exam and quiz for next week were administered, and I have someone watering the plants for me. All I have to do is have my mail held (can arrange for that this afternoon) and I can go.

So I have train tickets waiting for me. That is one of the blessings of a good job and a frugal lifestyle; emergencies like this are less of an emergency when you can pay for them.

I am still a bit teary but less teary now. I think I have done the right thing.

Update:

I had resisted looking at some of the online information (and resisted calling my uncle even though he said I could). I looked at some stuff on Medline just now. Turns out it's usually done under a local, with just pain medication. That makes me feel tremendously better; I have a phobia about general anesthesia. And apparently the person usually comes home the same day or the next. And they're recovered in a week.

And apparently in 90% of the cases no further surgery is needed.

And blood thinning medications are apparently not a big risk.

And my father isn't that old to be having it done - he's 70 - and was moderately active, at least when he was younger. And really hadn't had cholesterol issues. And he had NO symptoms that he could detect - this was found after one of those medication-challenge stress tests.

So maybe this will really actually be a small thing (she says, hopefully.)

I feel better, but I'm still glad I'm going.