>>..we don't worry about the cost of inaction

People don't get sued over lack of initiative or too much caution.

Brain infection was from a very routine dental cleaning (one of those "OK, you're doing great, there isn't much for me to do here..." ones).

Not much to say about how I got it. Most humans have that same strain of streptococcus in their mouths (the one that lands on heart valves and kills you 30 years later.)

Getting back to 'normal' is a much longer story, but it's pretty clear that if I hadn't been in such good shape (8-10 miles / week in the water) I wouldn't have made it.

Bright side: I have something to say every Thanksgiving when we go 'round the table and say what we're thankful for. :-)