Hal Sieber was seated in a wheelchair in his room at Golden Living Center this afternoon positively beaming. It's the first time I've seen him out of bed since he went into the hospital in late September. His face has thinned somewhat and his arms are soft and pale. Otherwise, he's the same ebullient bear I first met in the Border's cafe on High Point Road holding forth and orchestrating the salon.
The reason for his high spirits was seated in the corner. Pat Staley has known Hal for 60 years. She grew up in Greensboro. He came from Hendersonville. They met at UNC Chapel Hill around 1950.
"We dated in college, and then went our separate ways," Staley said. "He's been married a couple times, and I've been married a couple times."
Before he went into the hospital, Hal liked to show visitors to his apartment a framed black and white photograph of Pat as a young woman in a one-piece bathing suit with thick, dark hair spilling down her back and head turned with a sidelong glance over her shoulder. It stays in his bedroom.
"I think she's the most beautiful person in the world," Hal said. "She's a good person."
"He may be a little biased," Pat replied modestly.
A nurse named Marissa walked in the room to check Hal's blood pressure and attend to his roommate, Jerome.
Hal made introductions, and grasped Marissa by the arm.
"The only person who stood up for me when the whole damn hospital was trying to run me into the ground is Marissa," he said. "I appreciate it."
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