DUMBER AND DUMBER

I guess, the older you get the more likely that from time to time, you are going to have to turn to medical care.  Oh, geeze, how I dread that prospect. 

I’ve already shared how much I hate emergency rooms.  That came about during the 6 years that my brother spent his final years living with us.  During those years Jim went to the Emergency Room 3-4 times per year.  At first it was a relatively new experience for me, so I approached the times with an open, accepting attitude.

About the 3^rd year my attitude started to shift.  After many experiences of sitting in the waiting room/exam room 5-6, 7 and sometimes 8 hours with literally nothing happening I had lost all my patience.  On our final visit to the ER, the doctor screamed at us “This is not an emergency!”  Maybe not for him, but it was for Jim.  I asked the doc how long this would be, he said probably 5 hours.  I looked at him and said, “Call me when he’s ready to be picked up.”  and left.  They admitted Jim for a week-long stay. 

Let’s move ahead to current time.  On Saturday evening, October 11, I was really, really sick.  I couldn’t stop throwing up!  I couldn’t stop shivering.  I was completely and totally miserable.  Sickness continued through Sunday, calmed down a bit by Monday.  Had a doc appointment on Tuesday.  She thought I might have Hep A, as I was very jaundiced.  Blood tests said “NO”.  Ultrasound showed that my gallbladder was filled with gall stones.  Evidently the sickness was brought on by my body passing a gall stone. 

I made the decision immediately that the gallbladder had to go.  Was not going to go through that again.  The surgeon was out of town for a week.  Saw him when he returned, scheduled surgery and waited it out.

Now here’s where the story really begins.  The surgeon informed us that it would be a 5 hour, out-patient procedure and answered all of mine and Pete’s questions.  Surgery took place on Nov. 13.  Surgery went well, recovery….not so much. 

Turns out that my body really did not like the anesthetic.  The major issue was that my oxygen absorption rate was very low.  Doc did not want to release me.  So, after spending all day in the Recovery Room, I was finally moved into a hospital room about 7 PM, Thursday night. 

I felt fine.  Just wanted a good night’s sleep and to go home the next day.  DID NOT HAPPEN.  I’m not sure what was going on at the Nurses Station that night, but several times throughout the night there was yelling, screaming, laughing….it sounded like a serious party was going on.  I couldn’t believe it.  A ward full of sick people, in the middle of the night, and there was absolutely no way to sleep.

The next day I asked about my usual medications.  My requests were ignored.  I asked at least 4 times during the day.  I knew my daily medications were listed in my file, my comments were essentially ignored.  I knew what would happen if I didn’t get them.

I didn’t get released on Friday, as my body was still trying to smother me.  But that night, things got a little more exciting.  After dinner my heart started racing.  No big surprise, that happens when you don’t get your Metoprolol.  Night nurse was a wack job.  She freaked and a stat EKG was ordered.  I told them that if I could have my meds, all would be well. 

Finally, about 3 AM an intravenous dose arrived.  Immediately, my heart calmed down. 

Just to be clear, I am writing the highlights of my hospital stay…..there was so much more, but I can’t spend the day here at the computer. 

Let me just say, I was not impressed with my care at the hospital.  I wrote a scathing review when the hospital survey arrived at my laptop. 

And this makes me sad.  Sad, because I know it could and should be better.  My Mom was a nurse and spent her entire life caring for others.  She was an outstanding professional in her field.  I know how patients should be cared for….what I experienced was nowhere near even the low bar. 

And guess what….now it’s gonna get worse, since the federal government has decided that nursing is not a profession!!!  Geeze, it just gets dumber and dumber!!!!

50 Years Ago

These days I tend to spend a bit of time scrolling through Facebook videos.  Most of them I pass by very quickly, occasionally I watch one to the end, at times I learn something new, and quite often the video brings up an old memory.  That happened today.

Most of us probably don’t remember 50 years ago, on November 10, 1975, the sinking of the S.S. Edmund Fitzgerald.  The event didn’t get much news coverage, even though it was a significant event for the 29 men who lost their lives during a fierce storm on Lake Superior. 

A year later Gordon Lightfoot released his hit song, “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald.”  With this week being the 50^th anniversary of the event a bunch of reels are showing up on Facebook, and instantly my memory of Gordon Lightfoot came back full force.

I’m sitting, cross-legged on the basketball court at the University of Alaska’s Fairbanks campus gym.  I’m surrounded by about 20 other people my age, watching with awe, Gordon Lightfoot, strumming his guitar and singing song, after song.

It was an impromptu, small gathering, free concert.  I don’t remember how I and a couple of friends learned of the event, but somehow, we ended up there.  The story I remember was Lightfoot was flying from Japan to the US and he had a couple of hours layover in Fairbanks.  I guess he was bored and needed something to do.

The concert lasted about 45 minutes.  It was up close and very personal.  He was like a good friend enjoying playing for his buddies.  The group was passing around ‘joints’ and bottles of wine.  It was a very relaxed concert.

This event took place before the sinking of the Fitzgerald, so we didn’t hear that song, but after that evening I was forever a Lightfoot fan.  I remember hearing of his passing on May 1, 2023 and thinking, “Thanks for the memories.”

And the one song of his that I always go to is "The Sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald." 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A New Era

A new era to our life started October 31, 2025.  That’s the day Pete officially shut down his business and is now fully retired.  Hmmm…so how much of a transition is this going to be?

It all started on March 3, 1988 when Karen and I walked into Fly Me To The Moon Saloon in Telluride, Colorado.  There was Pete, the doorman, and there was an instant attraction.  I have to admit, I don’t understand how these things work, but it definitely happened to both of us at the same time. 

By the end of the week when I was at the airport headed home, we spent our final hour talking, talking, talking and as I left for the gate the first kiss. 

There was another quick visit in May, then another visit in September, by the end of which, he was flying home with me to check out Cincinnati.  By the end of the month he had packed up all his belongings and drove across country to join me in my home.

 

First Visit in LA. 

 

By August 1990 we were married.  After that, it was quite a ride.  We sold my little home in Cincinnati and moved out to the country, he switched jobs a couple of times until he opened his own spa repair/sales business and for 25+ years stayed busy with a growing clientele.

                                                         Wedding Day 8/17/1990

We have always been rather independent people, he stayed busy with his business and I stayed busy with my employment, until I finally retired 3 days before my 70^th birthday.  I figured since I had held jobs since I was 10 years old that a 70^th birthday was a good time to open the door to retirement.  Our 7 years age difference gave us the opportunity for him to do the same.  

 

                                                                    Present Day

So, he turned 70 in July and decided to keep it all going until the end of the year was approaching.  His phone message now reads “no new business, thanks for the support”.  He is finishing up a final couple of jobs and he is getting a lot of “Honey Do” projects started and finished. 

I don’t think either of us anticipated what it was going to be like to be around each other 24/7, but I think it’s gonna be just fine. 

I’ll let you know !!!