Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Behind the scenes at the MDA TELETHON
Please don't be scared by the extreme close up...I took August off from Blogging..Will update later this week.
Be Superb!
R
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Let's Camp it Up!
Hello Friends,
Did you ever get one of those little signs from the universe that instruct you to do what they want to you to do. Ok now your thinking...hmmmm... Maybe Richard needs to adjust his meds, but hear me out. I think I'll make some sense.
Ever since I started this blog, I have wanted to write about my experiences going to Summer Camp. Now, it could be coincidence or the fact that it is summer, but this week I heard from 2 fellow camp friend through Facebook for the first time since the early 70's...now, if that is not a sign to blog about it, I don't know what is. So here we go...
To give you a bit of history, My family and Camp Powhatan went way back. My Father was a Counselor there in 1954 and loved the experience. So after a few years of disliking day camp...my Parents thought that my brother and I would love sleep away camp....428 miles away from home in Oxford, Maine... Now, my Brother was lucky enough to go first in 1970, I couldn't attend yet because I was too young. Sadly I had the unfortunate duty that summer of accompanying my parents on a Transatlantic Cruise to London for a month going over on the RMS Queen Elizabeth II and returning on the SS France. Fortunately my brother got to miss all of that miserable European trip...snicker snicker...:) Hey, I did bring him a souvenir beret.
Now that summer we did go up to Maine to visit my brother and I loved what I saw. Lots of boys running all over the place...It looked like a nonstop school recess. Now I hated recess in reality, but loved it in concept. I wanted to swim, but didn't know how. I wanted to place baseball, but couldn't really run. BTW, did I mention this was an all boys SPORTS CAMP!!!! Here I was, 3 years after my heal cord surgery and having learned how to walk again...So we got to tour the camp. The ball fields, tennis courts and beautiful lake didn't interest me...but then I saw it...A wonderful big building...The Arts and Crafts Hut...I could do that. I loved the perceived freedom I saw at camp and the unlimited FOOD! By the time we were ready to go home from visiting my brother, I was all gung ho on returning as a camper the next summer.
During the winter, my family met with the Camp Owner, an extremely knowledgeable and nice gentleman named Joel. He assured my parents that I would be well taken care of and would not be forced to do anything I couldn't. He would make adjustments for my disability. As the time arrived for camp, I was excited.. Now, I had never "Roughed" it in my life...When my Counselor told me to unpack my trunk and make my bed, my answer was "HUH...Where's my MOMMY!!!! The first time I had to use the restroom, they directed me to a building 3 blocks away, I opened the door and there were 5 toilets, no stalls and one trough...and it all stunk really bad. I had lots to read on the walls, but didn't understand any of it. I thought hmmm..they even do arts and crafts on the walls in the bathroom because there was some really interesting artwork.
Our bunks were pretty sturdy, but they all had no windows, only screens and tarps to lower in the rain. There was one bathroom in each bunk but that was only for doing #1...the pipes couldn't handle more then that. The first nights I think I cried all night. I was homesick, didn't like the night Forrest noises and I was freezing cold. June in Maine makes for beautiful days, but real cold nights. You try going to the shower room outside of the bunks when it's 30 degrees and your on concrete floors. I think I showered twice the whole summer...except for the times each week when we all had to run into the lake nude and take a bath in the cold lake. A true nightmare for a shy, chubby 8 year old who hated being nude, the lake and couldn't swim.
Now every day we were told which activities were available that morning..Of course, there were really only 3 that I could do...A&C, nature hut and fishing. Now most of the kids went fishing on the docks or from a boat, but since I couldn't swim, I couldn't fish with them, so I decided I would fish off the small "safe" bridge that was between my bunk and the mess hall. Now I knew nothing about bait. So I thought...hmmm...What would I eat if I were a fish? I decided I would go to the mess hall and get some bait...well, Sugar Pops looked real good and would stay on the hook. So off I went, with my new fishing pole and my Sugar Pops to the small bridge. Now there was about a foot of water under this bridge. I baited my hook, lowered my line and waited....for a whole minute until a 10 lb catfish was on the end of my line...WOOOHOOO1!!....Ok....NOW WHAT!..I wasn' t about to touch that ugly damn fish yet take it off a sharp hook. where's my brother, where's the damn Counselor. Finally I got someone to take it off the hook and we put it in our fire pail. I wanted to keep it as a pet (my parents wouldn't let us have a dog yet) That night at dinner, they announced the Camp had a new great fisherman..ME. I finally felt proud I had caught the first fish of the camp season. I did let it the fish go the next day because the Counselor said it looked pregnant. To this day, it remains my best day at Camp Powhatan.
More coming soon!
Be Superb!
R
PS...Ok, Maybe it wasn't ten pounds, but it looked huge to me!
Did you ever get one of those little signs from the universe that instruct you to do what they want to you to do. Ok now your thinking...hmmmm... Maybe Richard needs to adjust his meds, but hear me out. I think I'll make some sense.
Ever since I started this blog, I have wanted to write about my experiences going to Summer Camp. Now, it could be coincidence or the fact that it is summer, but this week I heard from 2 fellow camp friend through Facebook for the first time since the early 70's...now, if that is not a sign to blog about it, I don't know what is. So here we go...
To give you a bit of history, My family and Camp Powhatan went way back. My Father was a Counselor there in 1954 and loved the experience. So after a few years of disliking day camp...my Parents thought that my brother and I would love sleep away camp....428 miles away from home in Oxford, Maine... Now, my Brother was lucky enough to go first in 1970, I couldn't attend yet because I was too young. Sadly I had the unfortunate duty that summer of accompanying my parents on a Transatlantic Cruise to London for a month going over on the RMS Queen Elizabeth II and returning on the SS France. Fortunately my brother got to miss all of that miserable European trip...snicker snicker...:) Hey, I did bring him a souvenir beret.
Now that summer we did go up to Maine to visit my brother and I loved what I saw. Lots of boys running all over the place...It looked like a nonstop school recess. Now I hated recess in reality, but loved it in concept. I wanted to swim, but didn't know how. I wanted to place baseball, but couldn't really run. BTW, did I mention this was an all boys SPORTS CAMP!!!! Here I was, 3 years after my heal cord surgery and having learned how to walk again...So we got to tour the camp. The ball fields, tennis courts and beautiful lake didn't interest me...but then I saw it...A wonderful big building...The Arts and Crafts Hut...I could do that. I loved the perceived freedom I saw at camp and the unlimited FOOD! By the time we were ready to go home from visiting my brother, I was all gung ho on returning as a camper the next summer.
During the winter, my family met with the Camp Owner, an extremely knowledgeable and nice gentleman named Joel. He assured my parents that I would be well taken care of and would not be forced to do anything I couldn't. He would make adjustments for my disability. As the time arrived for camp, I was excited.. Now, I had never "Roughed" it in my life...When my Counselor told me to unpack my trunk and make my bed, my answer was "HUH...Where's my MOMMY!!!! The first time I had to use the restroom, they directed me to a building 3 blocks away, I opened the door and there were 5 toilets, no stalls and one trough...and it all stunk really bad. I had lots to read on the walls, but didn't understand any of it. I thought hmmm..they even do arts and crafts on the walls in the bathroom because there was some really interesting artwork.
Our bunks were pretty sturdy, but they all had no windows, only screens and tarps to lower in the rain. There was one bathroom in each bunk but that was only for doing #1...the pipes couldn't handle more then that. The first nights I think I cried all night. I was homesick, didn't like the night Forrest noises and I was freezing cold. June in Maine makes for beautiful days, but real cold nights. You try going to the shower room outside of the bunks when it's 30 degrees and your on concrete floors. I think I showered twice the whole summer...except for the times each week when we all had to run into the lake nude and take a bath in the cold lake. A true nightmare for a shy, chubby 8 year old who hated being nude, the lake and couldn't swim.
Now every day we were told which activities were available that morning..Of course, there were really only 3 that I could do...A&C, nature hut and fishing. Now most of the kids went fishing on the docks or from a boat, but since I couldn't swim, I couldn't fish with them, so I decided I would fish off the small "safe" bridge that was between my bunk and the mess hall. Now I knew nothing about bait. So I thought...hmmm...What would I eat if I were a fish? I decided I would go to the mess hall and get some bait...well, Sugar Pops looked real good and would stay on the hook. So off I went, with my new fishing pole and my Sugar Pops to the small bridge. Now there was about a foot of water under this bridge. I baited my hook, lowered my line and waited....for a whole minute until a 10 lb catfish was on the end of my line...WOOOHOOO1!!....Ok....NOW WHAT!..I wasn' t about to touch that ugly damn fish yet take it off a sharp hook. where's my brother, where's the damn Counselor. Finally I got someone to take it off the hook and we put it in our fire pail. I wanted to keep it as a pet (my parents wouldn't let us have a dog yet) That night at dinner, they announced the Camp had a new great fisherman..ME. I finally felt proud I had caught the first fish of the camp season. I did let it the fish go the next day because the Counselor said it looked pregnant. To this day, it remains my best day at Camp Powhatan.
More coming soon!
Be Superb!
R
PS...Ok, Maybe it wasn't ten pounds, but it looked huge to me!
Saturday, July 24, 2010
MDA and Me
Hello my Friends,
I hope you are all having a great summer. I still feel like I'm in Florida with all the rain and humidity we are getting here, but at least its not snowing...that should start sometime next week...lol.
As Labor Day too quickly approaches, I become obsessed with one thing.... The Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon. The Telethon and I go back many years. As a child I loved the Telethon...I would sit for hours watching. I loved Jerry, I loved the cheesy entertainment, I empathized with the disabled Kids and above all, I loved seeing Broadway Casts perform Yes even then I was a Broadway Queenette. I was always very proud when my Dad would let me call in our $5.00 pledge. I was always jealous of my cousin Debbie after finding out she was answering phones for the Telethon...I wanted to be there too. The one thing that I didn'tknow was that I too was one of Jerry's Kids.
It was not until I was re diagnosed with CMT (My form of Muscular Dystrophy) at Duke University Medical Center at about 24 y/o that I realized that I had one of the forms of MD. Once I resettled in Florida, I registered with the South Florida MDA. The only problem in Florida was that the clinics were in Miami and I lived in Ft. Lauderdale. I hated driving in Miami. I started volunteering at the Telethons in the early 90's.
The first year I decided if Jerry could do 21 hours straight, so could I. That was a huge mistake. By the 12th hour, I was mumbling and my hand had cramped. It was then that I realized that it's the thought and not a marathon.
In the 90's as my hands and legs started failing me, MDA became a godsend. When my insurance paid for a scooter for me to get around in, I never knew that they didn't provide you any way to get the scooter around by car. I called the MDA and they provided me with a scooter lift for my car. When I moved to Green Bay, The MDA representative was the first person I met. She came over with essential equipment that I truly needed. She remains a dear friend today. I go for a yearly clinic where they access my disease and see if I need anything. They provide me with any equipment and repairs on equipment. They are an integral part of my life.
While my time answering phones has Become only 2 to 4 hours (my hand problems keep me from doing more), I have started raising moneys before the telethon. I have been truly blessed in that since I have been in Green Bay, I have raised close to $30,000.00 for this great charity. When my Dear Mother passed, they paid tribute to her at the local Telethon..it was beautiful. Every year I am interviewed and at the end of the interview, I present the generous monies that my wonderful friends and family have donated.
I truly wish that I knew that I could have utilized MDA's program as a child. Instead of going to the MDA camp, I ended up at an all sports camp. That did not go all that well, but that's for the next blog.
I know times are rough, but if you can spare a few dollars, you can click on this link https://www.joinmda.org/wlukbeastar2010/rick3rex
If you wish to send a check, please email me at rick3rex@aol.com and I will give you an address
Every dollar is truly appreciated.
Thank you in advance! Everybody stay cool.
Be Superb!
R
I hope you are all having a great summer. I still feel like I'm in Florida with all the rain and humidity we are getting here, but at least its not snowing...that should start sometime next week...lol.
As Labor Day too quickly approaches, I become obsessed with one thing.... The Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon. The Telethon and I go back many years. As a child I loved the Telethon...I would sit for hours watching. I loved Jerry, I loved the cheesy entertainment, I empathized with the disabled Kids and above all, I loved seeing Broadway Casts perform Yes even then I was a Broadway Queenette. I was always very proud when my Dad would let me call in our $5.00 pledge. I was always jealous of my cousin Debbie after finding out she was answering phones for the Telethon...I wanted to be there too. The one thing that I didn'tknow was that I too was one of Jerry's Kids.
It was not until I was re diagnosed with CMT (My form of Muscular Dystrophy) at Duke University Medical Center at about 24 y/o that I realized that I had one of the forms of MD. Once I resettled in Florida, I registered with the South Florida MDA. The only problem in Florida was that the clinics were in Miami and I lived in Ft. Lauderdale. I hated driving in Miami. I started volunteering at the Telethons in the early 90's.
The first year I decided if Jerry could do 21 hours straight, so could I. That was a huge mistake. By the 12th hour, I was mumbling and my hand had cramped. It was then that I realized that it's the thought and not a marathon.
In the 90's as my hands and legs started failing me, MDA became a godsend. When my insurance paid for a scooter for me to get around in, I never knew that they didn't provide you any way to get the scooter around by car. I called the MDA and they provided me with a scooter lift for my car. When I moved to Green Bay, The MDA representative was the first person I met. She came over with essential equipment that I truly needed. She remains a dear friend today. I go for a yearly clinic where they access my disease and see if I need anything. They provide me with any equipment and repairs on equipment. They are an integral part of my life.
While my time answering phones has Become only 2 to 4 hours (my hand problems keep me from doing more), I have started raising moneys before the telethon. I have been truly blessed in that since I have been in Green Bay, I have raised close to $30,000.00 for this great charity. When my Dear Mother passed, they paid tribute to her at the local Telethon..it was beautiful. Every year I am interviewed and at the end of the interview, I present the generous monies that my wonderful friends and family have donated.
I truly wish that I knew that I could have utilized MDA's program as a child. Instead of going to the MDA camp, I ended up at an all sports camp. That did not go all that well, but that's for the next blog.
I know times are rough, but if you can spare a few dollars, you can click on this link https://www.joinmda.org/wlukbeastar2010/rick3rex
If you wish to send a check, please email me at rick3rex@aol.com and I will give you an address
Every dollar is truly appreciated.
Thank you in advance! Everybody stay cool.
Be Superb!
R
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Pride Alive July 10, 2010
Hello Friends,
Well, I did it..I went to Pridefest and I had a great time. Thank you for all the great encouragement you all gave me I went with my nurse friend Lori , her daughter and her daughter's girlfriend. What great people they are. I attempted to document much of it on video, but ended up screwing it up.. I still had enough stuff to put together a nice little movie for you all.
In other news, Lori got me an appointment with a Dentist on Monday morning...She is amazing...So off I go tommorow to get some teeth pulled, not sure how many...I'm a bit nervous but i've been thru worse. Please thing good thoughts for me though.
I hope you enjoy this little peek into "Pride Alive"
Be Superb!
R
Well, I did it..I went to Pridefest and I had a great time. Thank you for all the great encouragement you all gave me I went with my nurse friend Lori , her daughter and her daughter's girlfriend. What great people they are. I attempted to document much of it on video, but ended up screwing it up.. I still had enough stuff to put together a nice little movie for you all.
In other news, Lori got me an appointment with a Dentist on Monday morning...She is amazing...So off I go tommorow to get some teeth pulled, not sure how many...I'm a bit nervous but i've been thru worse. Please thing good thoughts for me though.
I hope you enjoy this little peek into "Pride Alive"
Be Superb!
R
Saturday, July 3, 2010
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Updates Galore
Hello my Friends,
I've been bad and haven't blogged in a while...I'm sorry! I will attempt to bring you up to date on all the happenings in my life.
I mentioned when I began this blog that I was considering going back to college to complete my Bachelors Degree. This has been a dream of mine for a while. So I found Capella Universityty. It is totally over the Internet and would be perfect for me. I was accepted (I think they accept anyone with a pulse) and have been filling out all of the Financial aide paperwork. Now I already have 99 credits toward my Degree..So I was hoping that all this would be a fairly easy process...STUPID ME!!!! Now in 1992, I went back to school and got a degree in Broadcasting. I took out Federal Loans to do this. While paying these loans, I became disabled and the loans were deferred and I didn't have to pay them back. Now back to current times, I get an email last week saying that I need to have my Doctor fill out a form saying that I am no longer disabled and can now pay back any loans I get. SCREEEEEECH !!!!! That has put an end to my School dream. When old doors close, I know new ones will open...I am going to start looking for some volunteering work that I can help with.
The dentist thing is still up in the air, I have gotten used to chewing on one side. It is funny though, My dad was telling my Dentist horror story to a group of his friends and one of his friends had taken her daughter to the same place and walk out after seeing some sort of torch in the exam room. How does this guy have any patients?
My Wonderful Father has made a full recovery from his stomach surgery and amazes me every day with his wisdom and humor. He keeps trying to charge people 25 cents to view his scar. My nephew Mike is the smart one ....He offered Papa a dollar to NOT show him the scar. Papa has spent a great deal of his time lately volunteering at a local school. The children love him and it truly is his favorite timeof the day. He is my hero and I love him greatly. As we all celebrate our Fathers this week, I celebrate him with all of those other that he has fathered as an educator. He may be retired, but he has never stopped enriching Children's lives.
Onto another subject... I want to thank all of you for the wonderful and caring advise about going to the Green Bay Pride Alive event. It is coming up on July 10th and I will attend with Pride in who I am and in support of the LGBT Community. I am attending with my nurse, her lesbian daughter and her daughter's partner. I am looking forward to having some fun and learning about the local gay community.
And finally...This Thursday I will celebrate my 47th year on this earth. I am still here and grateful for it. There was a darker time in my life when I did not think I would make it to 30. I treasure every day now and every person in my life. I treasure the memories of those who are now my Angels. While this may not be the life I planned, It is the life I love. While some of us complain about getting older I relish being alive to get older. Sure we hate the body parts that are falling or getting wrinkled...we count each grey or absent hair on our heads, but these are badges of survival. All proof that we have made it. Papa, Is taking Kathy and I to our favorite steak restaurant for my Birthday. I celebrated with my most of my family last Saturday.
Well, that's all for now, Hope you are all having a wonderful summer! My prayers go out to all suffering in the Gulf States. Shame on you BP...Greed never wins!
Be Happy, Be Grateful and Be Superb!
R
I've been bad and haven't blogged in a while...I'm sorry! I will attempt to bring you up to date on all the happenings in my life.
I mentioned when I began this blog that I was considering going back to college to complete my Bachelors Degree. This has been a dream of mine for a while. So I found Capella Universityty. It is totally over the Internet and would be perfect for me. I was accepted (I think they accept anyone with a pulse) and have been filling out all of the Financial aide paperwork. Now I already have 99 credits toward my Degree..So I was hoping that all this would be a fairly easy process...STUPID ME!!!! Now in 1992, I went back to school and got a degree in Broadcasting. I took out Federal Loans to do this. While paying these loans, I became disabled and the loans were deferred and I didn't have to pay them back. Now back to current times, I get an email last week saying that I need to have my Doctor fill out a form saying that I am no longer disabled and can now pay back any loans I get. SCREEEEEECH !!!!! That has put an end to my School dream. When old doors close, I know new ones will open...I am going to start looking for some volunteering work that I can help with.
The dentist thing is still up in the air, I have gotten used to chewing on one side. It is funny though, My dad was telling my Dentist horror story to a group of his friends and one of his friends had taken her daughter to the same place and walk out after seeing some sort of torch in the exam room. How does this guy have any patients?
My Wonderful Father has made a full recovery from his stomach surgery and amazes me every day with his wisdom and humor. He keeps trying to charge people 25 cents to view his scar. My nephew Mike is the smart one ....He offered Papa a dollar to NOT show him the scar. Papa has spent a great deal of his time lately volunteering at a local school. The children love him and it truly is his favorite timeof the day. He is my hero and I love him greatly. As we all celebrate our Fathers this week, I celebrate him with all of those other that he has fathered as an educator. He may be retired, but he has never stopped enriching Children's lives.
Onto another subject... I want to thank all of you for the wonderful and caring advise about going to the Green Bay Pride Alive event. It is coming up on July 10th and I will attend with Pride in who I am and in support of the LGBT Community. I am attending with my nurse, her lesbian daughter and her daughter's partner. I am looking forward to having some fun and learning about the local gay community.
And finally...This Thursday I will celebrate my 47th year on this earth. I am still here and grateful for it. There was a darker time in my life when I did not think I would make it to 30. I treasure every day now and every person in my life. I treasure the memories of those who are now my Angels. While this may not be the life I planned, It is the life I love. While some of us complain about getting older I relish being alive to get older. Sure we hate the body parts that are falling or getting wrinkled...we count each grey or absent hair on our heads, but these are badges of survival. All proof that we have made it. Papa, Is taking Kathy and I to our favorite steak restaurant for my Birthday. I celebrated with my most of my family last Saturday.
Well, that's all for now, Hope you are all having a wonderful summer! My prayers go out to all suffering in the Gulf States. Shame on you BP...Greed never wins!
Be Happy, Be Grateful and Be Superb!
R
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Monday, May 31, 2010
May God Bless ALL of our Troops
Good Day!
First a quick update...No big change on Operation Dentist...Only that my Dad was telling a friend the story of my dentist visit and the woman screamed because she too ran out of this Dentist's office. Anyway on to the blog.I hope you all are having a commemorative and reflective Memorial Day. I have the utmost respect and gratitude for all those men and women who serve our Country and protect our Freedoms. If only our leaders respected their lives as much as many of us do..this world world not have useless wars as it currently does. Ok off my soapbox for a bit...When thinking about Memorial Day and what it means to me, I thought of a few stories to share with you.
My Family has a long history of serving our Country. I even had relatives in the Civil War, unfortunately he fought for the South and was captured by the North...luckily he was pardoned by President Lincoln only a few days before his assassination. My Dad's Father, Sidney served in France as a medic in the First World War. Both of my Uncles, Ira and Eddie fought valiantly in World War 2...Ira in the Philippians and Eddie all over Europe. Eddie lost much of his hearing from all of the bombing. My Father and his cousin David also served. My father was sent to a very dangerous location...Fort Dix, New Jersey..He served as an Assistant Chaplain, I know his guidance and faith helped many. I am proud of my family's great and selfless history of service.
The closest I ever got to wearing a uniform was as a Cub Scout. Now, I was possibly the WORST Cub Scout ever. I loved the uniform and the arts and crafts, but sucked at everything else. I remember those darn wooden car races. My Dad and I knew nothing about making the car go fast. I always lost in the first round. The only other activity I enjoyed as a Cub Scout was marching in the Annual Memorial Day Parade with my troop. I marched with pride and honor...ok, maybe it was more of a skip than a march, but I worked that uniform (see below)
As we commemorate Memorial Day this year. I am truly hopeful and a bit sad. We are on the edge of a truly great day A day when great gay men and women soldiers don't have to lie to their country in order to serve their country. Where gay soldiers don't have to only fear their enemy, but also fear their brothers in arms. Where gay soldiers who are willing to die for you and I are in fear 24/7 of being thrown out of the Military not for what they do, but for who they are. And finally today, I think of and cry for all soldiers who have died for our country, who fought hand in hand, black, white, gay or straight. I pray that this year end the brutal witch hunt in our military.
May God Bless ALL of America!
Be Patriotic, Be Blessed. Be Superb
R
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Little Shop of Horrors
Well, I have a story for you today. This story is a perfect example of why I wanted to do this blog. So here goes...
Now yesterday I had my fully pre-arranged dentist's appointment to take care of a tooth that broke a few weeks ago. Dentists are difficult here for me since there are only about 3 that accept the Medical Assistance Plan that I have because of my disability. I made the appointment at a Dentist's Office about an hour's drive from Green Bay. When I made the appointment, I made sure to ask the most important question....Is the office Wheelchair accessible? The answer was "Yes, You would have to enter from the rear door"(OK..no gay jokes) I then double checked by saying I have a big wheelchair...her response was "No Problem".
So off my Medivan driver and I go to see the dentist. Luckily I got a great driver. Now this is one of the longer trips I have taken since I moved to Green Bay and I discovered that the roads suck big time. Bumpy as hell. So about halfway there, I was feeling a bit queasy...Luckily the roads calmed down and so did my stomach. Then finally I see the sign for the town we are headed to... Now "City" is a exaggerated word for the one-street town we ended up in Coleman Wisconsin...Estimated population ...893 people. As we drove down the Mayberry like Main Street, my heart and stomach were falling quickly. There weren't any cars in the street and we even did a u-turn in the middle of the street when we passed by the Dentist's Office. We had ARRIVED!
We parked in the back of the building right next to the bee infested trash bins. Ahh...We found the rear door which we discovered had a 3 inch step to get in. Now my wheelchair and steps don't agree with each other. So my driver opened the door and yelled in....no answer..OK..so now we stepped around to the front and met another patient who informed us that the front door was locked. So we all went to the back entrance and waited. Finally a car pulled up and two nurses stepped out...one saying "OK lets get you in there" I tried and tried to get in, I gunned the motor, people pushed...nothing...my wheels had no traction to get up the step. Finally my driver suggested putting the rubber mat inside the door, over the step to get traction. We pushed again and Up I went.. Into the first back room...Now I had to get through a smaller door...I could hear the wood crumbling and straining as I made it through that door... now I was in a workroom/lunchroom. I had 3 more doors to get through but this was as far as I was going. It kind reminded me of Willy Wonka where the doors keep getting smaller. I was in as far as I was getting. The nurse told me.."There is no way we can do xrays back here and we can't do anything without xrays, but I still want you to see the Doc when he gets here". She then left me and my driver alone in the room.
So now we were alone to survey the surroundings...On one side were dusty shelves and counter with some sort of dark crumbs. On the other side there were a number of old machines that had a layer of dust or crud on them...Then there was the sink from HELL! It looked like it had not been washed out in a few years...around the sink were coffee cup circles embedded into the counter along with white stains and crud. I looked at my driver and mouthed..."LET"S GET THE F--K OUT OF HERE! Well then the nurse came back to fill out paperwork with me. I remained calm. When she left, a door next to my driver kind of shook hard..That was it for her, she told me she would meet me outside. OK so now I am in this dirty hallway..waiting for the Doc..I'm thinking..no one will believe this whole thing..So I got out my cellphone..and took a picture of the sink and counter area. I would have taken more, but my phone clicked loudly. Now I just need to figure out if i could download the pic from my phone.
In walks the Dentist from the bathroom...A very nice friendly looking 80 year old man. He said "Let's see what we have here...oops I have to wash my hands" my mind exploded thinking...IN THE FILTHY SINK...OMG...As I watched him washing them, I notice he had quite a shaking going on in his hands. I opened wide for him and he saw that i have two teeth broken one being a wisdom tooth. Then he gave me the best news...he could not treat me there...All color returned to my face. He said he will refer me to a Dental Surgeon. His nurse will give me the info. She followed up telling me where to call..She kind of treated me like I was not able to understand what she wanted me to do..It must have been that terrified look still etched on my face. After tearing more wall down trying to vacate the premises as fast as I could, we hopped in the van and sped away. As we drove, I filled the driver in. I asked her if she knew where this other clinic was.. She did..It's about 2 hours away from Green Bay. I turned green again very quickly.
So I still have two broken teeth, the knowledge that I get car sick, and the prospect of a four hour car trip, not to mention the removal of who knows how many teeth. But I did survive The Little Shop of Horrors" Oh..and I called the office this morning to see if they could refer me to a closer surgeon..She informed me that I left soo quickly that I left my Insurance Card there..It's in the mail..lol
I will keep you updated in the tooth adventure...BTW..the teeth feel a bit better, I think I scared the hurt out them. A Funny Life..HUH!
All for now,
Brush daily and Be Superb
Now yesterday I had my fully pre-arranged dentist's appointment to take care of a tooth that broke a few weeks ago. Dentists are difficult here for me since there are only about 3 that accept the Medical Assistance Plan that I have because of my disability. I made the appointment at a Dentist's Office about an hour's drive from Green Bay. When I made the appointment, I made sure to ask the most important question....Is the office Wheelchair accessible? The answer was "Yes, You would have to enter from the rear door"(OK..no gay jokes) I then double checked by saying I have a big wheelchair...her response was "No Problem".
So off my Medivan driver and I go to see the dentist. Luckily I got a great driver. Now this is one of the longer trips I have taken since I moved to Green Bay and I discovered that the roads suck big time. Bumpy as hell. So about halfway there, I was feeling a bit queasy...Luckily the roads calmed down and so did my stomach. Then finally I see the sign for the town we are headed to... Now "City" is a exaggerated word for the one-street town we ended up in Coleman Wisconsin...Estimated population ...893 people. As we drove down the Mayberry like Main Street, my heart and stomach were falling quickly. There weren't any cars in the street and we even did a u-turn in the middle of the street when we passed by the Dentist's Office. We had ARRIVED!
We parked in the back of the building right next to the bee infested trash bins. Ahh...We found the rear door which we discovered had a 3 inch step to get in. Now my wheelchair and steps don't agree with each other. So my driver opened the door and yelled in....no answer..OK..so now we stepped around to the front and met another patient who informed us that the front door was locked. So we all went to the back entrance and waited. Finally a car pulled up and two nurses stepped out...one saying "OK lets get you in there" I tried and tried to get in, I gunned the motor, people pushed...nothing...my wheels had no traction to get up the step. Finally my driver suggested putting the rubber mat inside the door, over the step to get traction. We pushed again and Up I went.. Into the first back room...Now I had to get through a smaller door...I could hear the wood crumbling and straining as I made it through that door... now I was in a workroom/lunchroom. I had 3 more doors to get through but this was as far as I was going. It kind reminded me of Willy Wonka where the doors keep getting smaller. I was in as far as I was getting. The nurse told me.."There is no way we can do xrays back here and we can't do anything without xrays, but I still want you to see the Doc when he gets here". She then left me and my driver alone in the room.
So now we were alone to survey the surroundings...On one side were dusty shelves and counter with some sort of dark crumbs. On the other side there were a number of old machines that had a layer of dust or crud on them...Then there was the sink from HELL! It looked like it had not been washed out in a few years...around the sink were coffee cup circles embedded into the counter along with white stains and crud. I looked at my driver and mouthed..."LET"S GET THE F--K OUT OF HERE! Well then the nurse came back to fill out paperwork with me. I remained calm. When she left, a door next to my driver kind of shook hard..That was it for her, she told me she would meet me outside. OK so now I am in this dirty hallway..waiting for the Doc..I'm thinking..no one will believe this whole thing..So I got out my cellphone..and took a picture of the sink and counter area. I would have taken more, but my phone clicked loudly. Now I just need to figure out if i could download the pic from my phone.
In walks the Dentist from the bathroom...A very nice friendly looking 80 year old man. He said "Let's see what we have here...oops I have to wash my hands" my mind exploded thinking...IN THE FILTHY SINK...OMG...As I watched him washing them, I notice he had quite a shaking going on in his hands. I opened wide for him and he saw that i have two teeth broken one being a wisdom tooth. Then he gave me the best news...he could not treat me there...All color returned to my face. He said he will refer me to a Dental Surgeon. His nurse will give me the info. She followed up telling me where to call..She kind of treated me like I was not able to understand what she wanted me to do..It must have been that terrified look still etched on my face. After tearing more wall down trying to vacate the premises as fast as I could, we hopped in the van and sped away. As we drove, I filled the driver in. I asked her if she knew where this other clinic was.. She did..It's about 2 hours away from Green Bay. I turned green again very quickly.
So I still have two broken teeth, the knowledge that I get car sick, and the prospect of a four hour car trip, not to mention the removal of who knows how many teeth. But I did survive The Little Shop of Horrors" Oh..and I called the office this morning to see if they could refer me to a closer surgeon..She informed me that I left soo quickly that I left my Insurance Card there..It's in the mail..lol
I will keep you updated in the tooth adventure...BTW..the teeth feel a bit better, I think I scared the hurt out them. A Funny Life..HUH!
All for now,
Brush daily and Be Superb
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Scales of Time
Hello All,
I want to start by saying thank you for all the kind and wonderful suggestions and comments that you posted in response to my blog "In and Out". Everyone seemed to say what I was thinking myself, but it is always difficult to tear down new walls. As of now, I am planning on attending the Green Bay "Pride Alive" festivities. I will be out, proud and hopefully will have fun. It is a great comfort knowing that I have such wonderful friends all around the Country who support me and what I do in my life. Thank you all!
I had an all kind of good and bad medical week. I had a visit this week with my Endocrinologist...my diabetes doctor. Now I have been going to her ever since I had my medical crisis almost 3 years ago. Together we have worked hard to get my diabetes under control and I am happy to say I have come a long way with it. Now, my last favorite part of my visit is getting weighted. The scale is one that I can drive my wheelchair on to. The bad news here was that I drove a bit to far and became stuck on the scale. It took three lovely nurses to get me unstuck. Then the good news..I lost 30 pounds in 5 months. Woohoo!..The funny thing about this scale is that the longer you stay on the lower your weight goes...My kind of scale!
The next day I had my yearly appointment with the Muscular Dystrophy Association's Clinic. They assess the current stages of my disease and see if there is anything they can help me with. MDA has been a vital part of my life, both emotionally and monetarily. They are currently going to pay for my boot/brace to be fixed. Of course for the second day in a row, they wanted to get my weight...a guy could get a complex. They wanted this one without the chair. Well the bad news was that I was 100 lbs more then I thought. But I had still lost 30 lbs. I will be happy to not see another scale for a few months.
And now, this Tuesday I have a dentists appointment because I broke a tooth and can't chew on the left side of my mouth without screaming bloody murder. Now as you have learned, I always try to find the good in every situation. So,, because the closest dentist that will take medicare is an hour away, I get to see a whole different part of Wisconsin on Tuesday. Only my 3rd visit out of the Green Bay city limits in 11 years ...YAY...I'm sooooo excited. lol
This is all part of my life, I hope it doesn't sound like complaining...just documenting the joys, sorrows, questions, triumphs as I live my funny life. Thank you for caring enough to follow along.
Be Sunny, Be Light and Be Superb!
R
I want to start by saying thank you for all the kind and wonderful suggestions and comments that you posted in response to my blog "In and Out". Everyone seemed to say what I was thinking myself, but it is always difficult to tear down new walls. As of now, I am planning on attending the Green Bay "Pride Alive" festivities. I will be out, proud and hopefully will have fun. It is a great comfort knowing that I have such wonderful friends all around the Country who support me and what I do in my life. Thank you all!
I had an all kind of good and bad medical week. I had a visit this week with my Endocrinologist...my diabetes doctor. Now I have been going to her ever since I had my medical crisis almost 3 years ago. Together we have worked hard to get my diabetes under control and I am happy to say I have come a long way with it. Now, my last favorite part of my visit is getting weighted. The scale is one that I can drive my wheelchair on to. The bad news here was that I drove a bit to far and became stuck on the scale. It took three lovely nurses to get me unstuck. Then the good news..I lost 30 pounds in 5 months. Woohoo!..The funny thing about this scale is that the longer you stay on the lower your weight goes...My kind of scale!
The next day I had my yearly appointment with the Muscular Dystrophy Association's Clinic. They assess the current stages of my disease and see if there is anything they can help me with. MDA has been a vital part of my life, both emotionally and monetarily. They are currently going to pay for my boot/brace to be fixed. Of course for the second day in a row, they wanted to get my weight...a guy could get a complex. They wanted this one without the chair. Well the bad news was that I was 100 lbs more then I thought. But I had still lost 30 lbs. I will be happy to not see another scale for a few months.
And now, this Tuesday I have a dentists appointment because I broke a tooth and can't chew on the left side of my mouth without screaming bloody murder. Now as you have learned, I always try to find the good in every situation. So,, because the closest dentist that will take medicare is an hour away, I get to see a whole different part of Wisconsin on Tuesday. Only my 3rd visit out of the Green Bay city limits in 11 years ...YAY...I'm sooooo excited. lol
This is all part of my life, I hope it doesn't sound like complaining...just documenting the joys, sorrows, questions, triumphs as I live my funny life. Thank you for caring enough to follow along.
Be Sunny, Be Light and Be Superb!
R
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Email that was passed on to me.
Hey Friend's,
A friend sent this email to me and it was just too good to not pass along.
R.
This is brilliant! We need more Prof's with a sense of humor like this one.
In her radio show, Dr Laura Schlesinger said that, as an observant Orthodox Jew, homosexuality is an abomination according to Leviticus 18:22, and cannot be condoned under any circumstance. The following response is an open letter to Dr. Laura, penned by a US resident, which was posted on the Internet. It's funny, as well as informative:
Dear Dr. Laura:
Thank you for doing so much to educate people regarding God's Law. I have learned a great deal from your show, and try to share that knowledge with as many people as I can. When someone tries to defend the homosexual lifestyle, for example, I simply remind them that Leviticus 18:22 clearly states it to be an abomination ... End of debate.
I do need some advice from you, however, regarding some other elements of God's Laws and how to follow them.
1. Leviticus 25:44 states that I may possess slaves, both male and female, provided they are purchased from neighboring nations. A friend of mine claims that this applies to Mexicans, but not Canadians. Can you clarify? Why can't I own Canadians?
2. I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as sanctioned in Exodus 21:7. In this day and age, what do you think would be a fair price for her?
3. I know that I am allowed no contact with a woman while she is in her period of Menstrual uncleanliness - Lev.15: 19-24. The problem is how do I tell? I have tried asking, but most women take offense.
4. When I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice, I know it creates a pleasing odor for the Lord - Lev.1:9. The problem is my neighbors. They claim the odor is not pleasing to them. Should I smite them?
5. I have a neighbor who insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus 35:2 clearly states he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill him myself, or should I ask the police to do it?
6. A friend of mine feels that even though eating shellfish is an abomination, Lev. 11:10, it is a lesser abomination than homosexuality. I don't agree. Can you settle this? Are there 'degrees' of abomination?
7. Lev. 21:20 states that I may not approach the altar of God if I have a defect in my sight. I have to admit that I wear reading glasses. Does my vision have to be 20/20, or is there some wiggle-room here?
8. Most of my male friends get their hair trimmed, including the hair around their temples, even though this is expressly forbidden by Lev. 19:27. How should they die?
9. I know from Lev. 11:6-8 that touching the skin of a dead pig makes me unclean, but may I still play football if I wear gloves?
10. My uncle has a farm. He violates Lev.19:19 by planting two different crops in the same field, as does his wife by wearing garments made of two different kinds of thread (cotton/polyester blend). He also tends to curse and blaspheme a lot. Is it really necessary that we go to all the trouble of getting the whole town together to stone them? Lev.24:10-16. Couldn't we just burn them to death at a private family affair, like we do with people who sleep with their in-laws? (Lev. 20:14)
I know you have studied these things extensively and thus enjoy considerable expertise in such matters, so I'm confident you can help.
Thank you again for reminding us that God's word is eternal and unchanging.
Your adoring fan.
James M. Kauffman, Ed.D. Professor Emeritus, Dept. Of Curriculum, Instruction, and Special Education University of Virginia
(It would be a damn shame if we couldn't own a Canadian :)
A friend sent this email to me and it was just too good to not pass along.
R.
This is brilliant! We need more Prof's with a sense of humor like this one.
In her radio show, Dr Laura Schlesinger said that, as an observant Orthodox Jew, homosexuality is an abomination according to Leviticus 18:22, and cannot be condoned under any circumstance. The following response is an open letter to Dr. Laura, penned by a US resident, which was posted on the Internet. It's funny, as well as informative:
Dear Dr. Laura:
Thank you for doing so much to educate people regarding God's Law. I have learned a great deal from your show, and try to share that knowledge with as many people as I can. When someone tries to defend the homosexual lifestyle, for example, I simply remind them that Leviticus 18:22 clearly states it to be an abomination ... End of debate.
I do need some advice from you, however, regarding some other elements of God's Laws and how to follow them.
1. Leviticus 25:44 states that I may possess slaves, both male and female, provided they are purchased from neighboring nations. A friend of mine claims that this applies to Mexicans, but not Canadians. Can you clarify? Why can't I own Canadians?
2. I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as sanctioned in Exodus 21:7. In this day and age, what do you think would be a fair price for her?
3. I know that I am allowed no contact with a woman while she is in her period of Menstrual uncleanliness - Lev.15: 19-24. The problem is how do I tell? I have tried asking, but most women take offense.
4. When I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice, I know it creates a pleasing odor for the Lord - Lev.1:9. The problem is my neighbors. They claim the odor is not pleasing to them. Should I smite them?
5. I have a neighbor who insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus 35:2 clearly states he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill him myself, or should I ask the police to do it?
6. A friend of mine feels that even though eating shellfish is an abomination, Lev. 11:10, it is a lesser abomination than homosexuality. I don't agree. Can you settle this? Are there 'degrees' of abomination?
7. Lev. 21:20 states that I may not approach the altar of God if I have a defect in my sight. I have to admit that I wear reading glasses. Does my vision have to be 20/20, or is there some wiggle-room here?
8. Most of my male friends get their hair trimmed, including the hair around their temples, even though this is expressly forbidden by Lev. 19:27. How should they die?
9. I know from Lev. 11:6-8 that touching the skin of a dead pig makes me unclean, but may I still play football if I wear gloves?
10. My uncle has a farm. He violates Lev.19:19 by planting two different crops in the same field, as does his wife by wearing garments made of two different kinds of thread (cotton/polyester blend). He also tends to curse and blaspheme a lot. Is it really necessary that we go to all the trouble of getting the whole town together to stone them? Lev.24:10-16. Couldn't we just burn them to death at a private family affair, like we do with people who sleep with their in-laws? (Lev. 20:14)
I know you have studied these things extensively and thus enjoy considerable expertise in such matters, so I'm confident you can help.
Thank you again for reminding us that God's word is eternal and unchanging.
Your adoring fan.
James M. Kauffman, Ed.D. Professor Emeritus, Dept. Of Curriculum, Instruction, and Special Education University of Virginia
(It would be a damn shame if we couldn't own a Canadian :)
Thursday, May 6, 2010
In and Out
Hey Bloggees,
Thank you for all of the good wishes sent my Dads way. He is feeling much better and continues to heal. I am so lucky to have him, Kathy and lots of wonderful people in my life. That includes all of you who read this blog too. From time to time I do need advise in my life. And I need to ask you all for some today.
As I have stated before, I have no doubt that I have been gay my whole life. It was never a choice or decision. It is just who I am. I came out to my parents when I was about 24. I wrote them a letter when I was in therapy in the Eating Disorder Clinic I mentioned in a previous blog. I wrote a letter telling them i was gay, that I smoke and had gotten high...I guess I thought I would get it all out at once..If they didn't have a heart attack or disown me, I was gonna be OK. Fortunately I have wonderful understand loving parent. All was fine. I was one of the lucky ones.
Now I have always been out to my closest friends. I can count the number of Gay Bars that I've been to on one hand. When I first came out to my first gay friend at 20 y/o, I discovered that the gay world was probably more judgmental then the straight world. Overweight men are not the ideal. Now South Florida has quite a big gay community and the travel company that I worked for had quite a few gay people...I felt very comfortable being out and who I am. I even did drag... well...not great drag for Halloween one year...Thanks Michelle! Every year for about 10 years in Florida, I would attend the Pride Festival each summer. It was the one day a year that I was totally out and felt good and not self conscious about my weight.
When I moved to Green Bay, I started over. with all my health problems, being gay didn't really make much of a difference. Of course my best friends and my family knew, but most of my caretakers do not know. I have no gay friend here..only over the computer. Now yesterday,I saw an advertisement for Green Bay's Pride Alive...a pride festival. Now here is the problem. I would love to go, but that would mean the possibility of my caretakers finding out. plus I would have to take the medivan there. I don't know that I want all their drivers gossiping about me. Green Bay is much smaller than Ft. Lauderdale. Do I just bite the bullet and not give a shit what people think, or keep the status quo . Any advise for me?
I am not ashamed in any way of being gay...I just am afraid to open myself up to criticism and possible hate.
Thank you for listening.
Be Superb!
R
Thank you for all of the good wishes sent my Dads way. He is feeling much better and continues to heal. I am so lucky to have him, Kathy and lots of wonderful people in my life. That includes all of you who read this blog too. From time to time I do need advise in my life. And I need to ask you all for some today.
As I have stated before, I have no doubt that I have been gay my whole life. It was never a choice or decision. It is just who I am. I came out to my parents when I was about 24. I wrote them a letter when I was in therapy in the Eating Disorder Clinic I mentioned in a previous blog. I wrote a letter telling them i was gay, that I smoke and had gotten high...I guess I thought I would get it all out at once..If they didn't have a heart attack or disown me, I was gonna be OK. Fortunately I have wonderful understand loving parent. All was fine. I was one of the lucky ones.
Now I have always been out to my closest friends. I can count the number of Gay Bars that I've been to on one hand. When I first came out to my first gay friend at 20 y/o, I discovered that the gay world was probably more judgmental then the straight world. Overweight men are not the ideal. Now South Florida has quite a big gay community and the travel company that I worked for had quite a few gay people...I felt very comfortable being out and who I am. I even did drag... well...not great drag for Halloween one year...Thanks Michelle! Every year for about 10 years in Florida, I would attend the Pride Festival each summer. It was the one day a year that I was totally out and felt good and not self conscious about my weight.
When I moved to Green Bay, I started over. with all my health problems, being gay didn't really make much of a difference. Of course my best friends and my family knew, but most of my caretakers do not know. I have no gay friend here..only over the computer. Now yesterday,I saw an advertisement for Green Bay's Pride Alive...a pride festival. Now here is the problem. I would love to go, but that would mean the possibility of my caretakers finding out. plus I would have to take the medivan there. I don't know that I want all their drivers gossiping about me. Green Bay is much smaller than Ft. Lauderdale. Do I just bite the bullet and not give a shit what people think, or keep the status quo . Any advise for me?
I am not ashamed in any way of being gay...I just am afraid to open myself up to criticism and possible hate.
Thank you for listening.
Be Superb!
R
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Stressed and Possessed
Ok...I apologize for ignoring this blog, but it has been a crazy two weeks. I will try to not let it happen again. Lets start at the beginning.
My Dad (Papa) has not really been feeling well for over a year. He has slowly been getting weaker and weaker. His breathing was getting more labored and he was getting forgetful (well more forgetful then usual). He would go to different doctors but nobody could find anything wrong. As I have learned with all of my medical issues, sometimes you have to learn to be your own doctor. A blood test found that he had only half the blood that he should have. That meant he was bleeding from somewhere in his body. Finally two weeks ago a Doctor had him do an endoscopy and colonoscopy...Poor Papa had the full Roto-Rooter treatment. The colonoscopy was fine but they found a bleeding polyp in his stomach. He was scheduled to have another endoscopy to remove the polyp that Thursday.
Unfortunately the second procedure was unsuccessful and they decided that they would have to remove the polyp surgically. The surgery went perfectly well. The polyp was non-cancerous...all great news. I went to visit Papa in ICU the first day after his surgery. He was sleepy, itchy and uncomfortable, but in good spirits. I had planned to come back on Monday morning...That's when the fun started.
I arrived at the hospital and searched for his new room since he was no longer in ICU. When I walked into his room and greeted him, he gave me a very strange look. He told me that in his mind he was telling me not to come see him. He was angry, uncomfortable and just wanted to be left alone. I went to console him and he told me not to touch him. Then he basically threw me out of his room. I went into the hallway and just sat there in shock. Looking back...I'm surprised there was not smoke, coldness and furniture moving in his room by itself..I would swear a demon had Possessed my Papa. The person in the room looked like my Dad, but that was not him in the room. I had nowhere to go to since my Medivan would not return for 3 hours. So I sat in the Hall until Kathy arrived to have lunch with me. I sat listening to him moaning, groaning and occasionally cursing. His nurses were angels. That Monday my Dad threw out not only me, but also my brother, my sister-in-law and his best friend.
Tuesday turned out to be not much better. At times my dad didn't know where he was. He kept ripping out tubes and being quite a handful. This was so unlike my father who is normally a gentle very reasonable person. He would call my brother at all hours to come pick him up. Finally, they had to give him a 24 hour nurse. That made my brother and I feel much better. Now, this is all a very different role for me. I am very used to being the patient, not the caretaker. To be honest, I think I prefer being the patient. It's much less stressful.
Finally on Wednesday, when I walked into his room, I started seeing glimpses of my Papa coming back. He didn't remember much of the previous days. He was still very weak and a bit out of it, but it was Papa. He smiled when Kathy came in . We watched him try to eat Jello with his eyes closed, which is not easy to do. When he thought he was pulling up his sheet, he was actually pulling up his gown...so I saw way too much of Papa that day.
By Thursday he was both physically and mentally better. The Doctors suggested a rehab facility for him, but he overrode that. He is most comfortable in his own home. My Dad came home Friday and with the help of aftercare people, my wonderful nephew who flew in from College and my saintly friend Kathy...He is getting stronger every day. I expect a full recovery.
I want to thank all the wonderful friends and family who sent prayers and good wishes our way. I want to thank my old but new friend Wendy for our nightly gab sessions on Facebook..you helped me keep perspective. To my friend/sister Kathy...you rock! And to my Papa. I am sooo thankful that you are the person you are. I look forward to many more years with you around!
Remember to appreciatte every day and all those around you.
That's all for now!
Be Thankful, Be Considerate and Be Superb!
R
My Dad (Papa) has not really been feeling well for over a year. He has slowly been getting weaker and weaker. His breathing was getting more labored and he was getting forgetful (well more forgetful then usual). He would go to different doctors but nobody could find anything wrong. As I have learned with all of my medical issues, sometimes you have to learn to be your own doctor. A blood test found that he had only half the blood that he should have. That meant he was bleeding from somewhere in his body. Finally two weeks ago a Doctor had him do an endoscopy and colonoscopy...Poor Papa had the full Roto-Rooter treatment. The colonoscopy was fine but they found a bleeding polyp in his stomach. He was scheduled to have another endoscopy to remove the polyp that Thursday.
Unfortunately the second procedure was unsuccessful and they decided that they would have to remove the polyp surgically. The surgery went perfectly well. The polyp was non-cancerous...all great news. I went to visit Papa in ICU the first day after his surgery. He was sleepy, itchy and uncomfortable, but in good spirits. I had planned to come back on Monday morning...That's when the fun started.
I arrived at the hospital and searched for his new room since he was no longer in ICU. When I walked into his room and greeted him, he gave me a very strange look. He told me that in his mind he was telling me not to come see him. He was angry, uncomfortable and just wanted to be left alone. I went to console him and he told me not to touch him. Then he basically threw me out of his room. I went into the hallway and just sat there in shock. Looking back...I'm surprised there was not smoke, coldness and furniture moving in his room by itself..I would swear a demon had Possessed my Papa. The person in the room looked like my Dad, but that was not him in the room. I had nowhere to go to since my Medivan would not return for 3 hours. So I sat in the Hall until Kathy arrived to have lunch with me. I sat listening to him moaning, groaning and occasionally cursing. His nurses were angels. That Monday my Dad threw out not only me, but also my brother, my sister-in-law and his best friend.
Tuesday turned out to be not much better. At times my dad didn't know where he was. He kept ripping out tubes and being quite a handful. This was so unlike my father who is normally a gentle very reasonable person. He would call my brother at all hours to come pick him up. Finally, they had to give him a 24 hour nurse. That made my brother and I feel much better. Now, this is all a very different role for me. I am very used to being the patient, not the caretaker. To be honest, I think I prefer being the patient. It's much less stressful.
Finally on Wednesday, when I walked into his room, I started seeing glimpses of my Papa coming back. He didn't remember much of the previous days. He was still very weak and a bit out of it, but it was Papa. He smiled when Kathy came in . We watched him try to eat Jello with his eyes closed, which is not easy to do. When he thought he was pulling up his sheet, he was actually pulling up his gown...so I saw way too much of Papa that day.
By Thursday he was both physically and mentally better. The Doctors suggested a rehab facility for him, but he overrode that. He is most comfortable in his own home. My Dad came home Friday and with the help of aftercare people, my wonderful nephew who flew in from College and my saintly friend Kathy...He is getting stronger every day. I expect a full recovery.
I want to thank all the wonderful friends and family who sent prayers and good wishes our way. I want to thank my old but new friend Wendy for our nightly gab sessions on Facebook..you helped me keep perspective. To my friend/sister Kathy...you rock! And to my Papa. I am sooo thankful that you are the person you are. I look forward to many more years with you around!
Remember to appreciatte every day and all those around you.
That's all for now!
Be Thankful, Be Considerate and Be Superb!
R
Friday, April 23, 2010
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Friday, April 9, 2010
My Crazy Week.
It has been one crazy week here in Green Bay.
My Tuesday started fairly normally with my morning aide waking me up. Now there are 3 different aides who do my morning cares. The one who came on Tuesday is famous for telling me all her problems. We joke that she should pay me to be her therapist. Now I don't mind this, but its not the way I like to wake up every day. Anyway, on days that I don't go anywhere I wear a hospital gown like thing. It's very comfy. That is if it does not come undone in back, which it did on Tuesday. Now Kathy was nice enough to stop by early to tie me up..oh wait..well, you know what I mean. Then I go to check my emails, my computer now tell me I have a virus..So I run my anti-virus and find that my whole system has been deleted. OH SHIT!!!! That's the nicest thing I had to say at that moment. Now I had to search for my discs and everything I needed to replace the whole system. Oh this should only take a few....Months!
Now, these are the times when my disabilities get to me. Part of the Muscular Dystrophy I have is severe neuropathy in my hands. It kinds of feels like the pins and needles you get when you leg falls asleep...only it's constant. Now dropping things have become a usual hobby of mine. Well on Tuesday, I dropped my phone 3 times and almost ran it over once with my wheelchair. Now when I drop something, I have a reacher to pick it up. It's like a 3 foot pole with a claw at the end that opens and closes. I actually have 3 reachers...why 3 you ask? Well, say I drop a fork, I go grab the reacher and as I'm picking up the fork...I drop the reacher...then I need a reacher to pick up both the reacher and the fork...excetera...There was a time that I just said "Screw It" after dropping all three reachers. Then on Tuesday..the best thing to drop...A FULL CUP OF CRYSTAL LIGHT PUNCH. I guess you can say that the pink just fits my personality. I now have pink spots on both the Dining Room and Bedroom carpets.
I still have quite a bit to load back into my computer, but i am patient. Yes it was a bad day, but it wasn't the end of the world. One of my friends has asked for a picture of my bald head. It has grown back a bit but I will try to have my Dad take one at lunch on Saturday. He still has the Polaroid camera that he gave me for a birthday when I was little. I swear one day I will get a digital Camera. I have a flip cam but it won't let me download onto my computer. One day I will hopefully do a talky blog if I can.
Oh BTW..We had 78 degree weather on Tuesday and yesterday we had 5 inches of snow. WTF.
I hope you are all enjoying your Spring!
Be strong, be loving and Be Superb!
R
My Tuesday started fairly normally with my morning aide waking me up. Now there are 3 different aides who do my morning cares. The one who came on Tuesday is famous for telling me all her problems. We joke that she should pay me to be her therapist. Now I don't mind this, but its not the way I like to wake up every day. Anyway, on days that I don't go anywhere I wear a hospital gown like thing. It's very comfy. That is if it does not come undone in back, which it did on Tuesday. Now Kathy was nice enough to stop by early to tie me up..oh wait..well, you know what I mean. Then I go to check my emails, my computer now tell me I have a virus..So I run my anti-virus and find that my whole system has been deleted. OH SHIT!!!! That's the nicest thing I had to say at that moment. Now I had to search for my discs and everything I needed to replace the whole system. Oh this should only take a few....Months!
Now, these are the times when my disabilities get to me. Part of the Muscular Dystrophy I have is severe neuropathy in my hands. It kinds of feels like the pins and needles you get when you leg falls asleep...only it's constant. Now dropping things have become a usual hobby of mine. Well on Tuesday, I dropped my phone 3 times and almost ran it over once with my wheelchair. Now when I drop something, I have a reacher to pick it up. It's like a 3 foot pole with a claw at the end that opens and closes. I actually have 3 reachers...why 3 you ask? Well, say I drop a fork, I go grab the reacher and as I'm picking up the fork...I drop the reacher...then I need a reacher to pick up both the reacher and the fork...excetera...There was a time that I just said "Screw It" after dropping all three reachers. Then on Tuesday..the best thing to drop...A FULL CUP OF CRYSTAL LIGHT PUNCH. I guess you can say that the pink just fits my personality. I now have pink spots on both the Dining Room and Bedroom carpets.
I still have quite a bit to load back into my computer, but i am patient. Yes it was a bad day, but it wasn't the end of the world. One of my friends has asked for a picture of my bald head. It has grown back a bit but I will try to have my Dad take one at lunch on Saturday. He still has the Polaroid camera that he gave me for a birthday when I was little. I swear one day I will get a digital Camera. I have a flip cam but it won't let me download onto my computer. One day I will hopefully do a talky blog if I can.
Oh BTW..We had 78 degree weather on Tuesday and yesterday we had 5 inches of snow. WTF.
I hope you are all enjoying your Spring!
Be strong, be loving and Be Superb!
R
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Holidays Abound
A Happy Easter and Passover To all!
What a beautiful time of year this is. Children are scampering around the green lawn looking for pastel colored eggs and the Jewish folks are all constipated from the 10,000 Matzoh we have eaten since Monday. Matzoh, for those who don't know, is a tasty version of cardboard. It is the only type of bread we are able to eat over the 8 days of passover. In all seriousness, This is a great time of year. Us Midwesterners had a better winter than many of the other parts of the country.
The Seder on Tuesday night went very well, everyone enjoyed the foods that Kathy and I made. I did have to endure more BALD joke from my family but the hair is growing back...slowly. We had the typical adult and children's table. Sitting at the Children's table were my two nephews 15 and 20 y/o and my father and myself 77 and 46 y/o. And we all acted like a bunch 13 y/o children , we giggled and laughed through the whole thing. It started when my nephew's tried to find a yarmulke (Jewish Beanie) for me. First of all, they all seemed to fall off my bald head. We considered glue, pins and staples. Finally we found one that stayed on. It was fine until I was enjoying my lovely bowl of Homemade Matzoh Ball Soup. I bent down to take my first spoonful and like a skier going down the slick snow of the mountain, so did my yarmulke sliding right down my hairless forehead and landing directly in my hot bowl of soup. My nephew swooped in to rescue the beanie from the soup. The soup and matzoh ball minus the yarmulke was delicious. It was actually the most fun I have had at the Seder in a long time.
Now, I have never celebrated Easter, but I have dressed up as the Easter Bunny. In my 3rd year of College, I was lucky enough to Co-write, Direct and act in the Parent's Weekend Show. It was a trip through a year of Holidays with two different families. The scene had the two families doing the bunny hop for their Children's Easter Pageant. Now acquiring a Bunny costume for a big guy was not easy. They added a lot of panels to my costume. I do have to admit that my fuzzy tail was adorable. Now we had some quick costume changes so I had to get in and out of my bunny suit quite quickly. Of course on the night of the performance I got stuck in my damn Rabbit suit. I think it took about four people to get me out of the bunny suit. It was not a pretty site!
Now to the most Important Holiday of the week...Papa's Birthday. My Dad turned a young 77 on the 3rd. Since it's Passover we couldn't have his favorite butter cream frosted cake. Now my Dad gets everyone a butter cream cake on our birthdays, not because we like it, but because He LOVES it. My nephew Ben got him the best gift. My Dad had put together the family story over the years and My nephew put it all into hard cover book and has published it. I helped by including some family pictures. It is a wonderful gift that will live on in our Family for ages.
Do you have a funny Holiday story..If so, please share it. In the mean time, Have a great Holiday!
Be renewed, Be joyous and Be Superb!
R
What a beautiful time of year this is. Children are scampering around the green lawn looking for pastel colored eggs and the Jewish folks are all constipated from the 10,000 Matzoh we have eaten since Monday. Matzoh, for those who don't know, is a tasty version of cardboard. It is the only type of bread we are able to eat over the 8 days of passover. In all seriousness, This is a great time of year. Us Midwesterners had a better winter than many of the other parts of the country.
The Seder on Tuesday night went very well, everyone enjoyed the foods that Kathy and I made. I did have to endure more BALD joke from my family but the hair is growing back...slowly. We had the typical adult and children's table. Sitting at the Children's table were my two nephews 15 and 20 y/o and my father and myself 77 and 46 y/o. And we all acted like a bunch 13 y/o children , we giggled and laughed through the whole thing. It started when my nephew's tried to find a yarmulke (Jewish Beanie) for me. First of all, they all seemed to fall off my bald head. We considered glue, pins and staples. Finally we found one that stayed on. It was fine until I was enjoying my lovely bowl of Homemade Matzoh Ball Soup. I bent down to take my first spoonful and like a skier going down the slick snow of the mountain, so did my yarmulke sliding right down my hairless forehead and landing directly in my hot bowl of soup. My nephew swooped in to rescue the beanie from the soup. The soup and matzoh ball minus the yarmulke was delicious. It was actually the most fun I have had at the Seder in a long time.
Now, I have never celebrated Easter, but I have dressed up as the Easter Bunny. In my 3rd year of College, I was lucky enough to Co-write, Direct and act in the Parent's Weekend Show. It was a trip through a year of Holidays with two different families. The scene had the two families doing the bunny hop for their Children's Easter Pageant. Now acquiring a Bunny costume for a big guy was not easy. They added a lot of panels to my costume. I do have to admit that my fuzzy tail was adorable. Now we had some quick costume changes so I had to get in and out of my bunny suit quite quickly. Of course on the night of the performance I got stuck in my damn Rabbit suit. I think it took about four people to get me out of the bunny suit. It was not a pretty site!
Now to the most Important Holiday of the week...Papa's Birthday. My Dad turned a young 77 on the 3rd. Since it's Passover we couldn't have his favorite butter cream frosted cake. Now my Dad gets everyone a butter cream cake on our birthdays, not because we like it, but because He LOVES it. My nephew Ben got him the best gift. My Dad had put together the family story over the years and My nephew put it all into hard cover book and has published it. I helped by including some family pictures. It is a wonderful gift that will live on in our Family for ages.
Do you have a funny Holiday story..If so, please share it. In the mean time, Have a great Holiday!
Be renewed, Be joyous and Be Superb!
R
Monday, March 29, 2010
Passover AKA You've Got Big "Matzoh Balls"
Happy Passover and Easter to All,
As I have said in the past, i am not the most religious Jewish guy out there, but I have to admit that Passover is my favorite of all the Jewish Holidays. What can be bad about a Holiday where you don't have to go to Synagogue and the main celebration takes place around the dinner table.
As a child, Passover was a double edged sword. The great parts were, lots of food, my Nana's famous Matzoh Ball Soup and prizes we would get after the dinner for finding the afikomen (a piece of matzoh hidden by the adults, kind of a Jewish Easter Egg hunt). The earliest memory of this was when we were visiting my Mother's parents and family in Miami. I remember finding the afikoman an I was given 2 rolls of pennies. I asked how much money that was, they told me it was 100 cents...OMG..I was rich! I thought that was a tremendous amount of money. I also loved making the special brownie and cake mixes with my Dad. It was our job to make the cakes and a mix of chopped apples. walnuts, raisins, cinnamon and sweet wine called charoset. I got to chop the nuts and it was great bonding time with my Dad.
Now to the bad part...The Four Questions... The darn four questions that the youngest child in the family had to sing in Hebrew at the dinner. Now, as I have mentioned, Hebrew was never easy for me so it was always a nerve wracking experience.And darn if I wasn't the youngest grandchild until I was like 17..I was so ready to to have someone else deal with the pressure of the "Four Questions'. I still get resentful when my nephews get out of having to do it alone..If I had to suffer, so do they!!!!...whewww sorry..It's a sore subject..lol. Ok..better now.
One year, while I was living in Florida, I decided to have my own Passover Seder (dinner). My parents were coming back from a Cruise and they were arriving back on Passover. So it was going to be Me, Rex, My Parents and 3 non Jewish friends from work. Now as a child, it had always been a tradition that we always brought one non-Jewish friend to our Seders, so I wanted to continue that tradition. Now usually it takes a few people to cook a full passover dinner, but I was dead set to do it on my own. I spent 3 days getting ready, cooking, cleaning, by the time my Parents got there I was ready to pass out. I had made my own Matzoh Ball's but asked my dad to put the chicken soup mix in the water. Only one problem, I gave him two packages of soup mix and only put in enough water for one. Both the Matzoh Balls and the soup tasted like we had gotten the water directly from the Salt Lake. It was the worst dinner! That was the one and only time I ever tried cooking a dinner for anyone.
Part of the traditions of Passover is that the Spirit of Elijah the profit comes to all the houses and sips from the wine glass that has been poured for him. Now while we sing a song for him someone always goes to the front door and opens it so that he can enter. A few years ago, One of my nephews opens the door and we are singing loudly...and in walks a man....it was my van driver coming to pick me up...I'm not sure who was more shocked.
That brings me to the present. The first Seder is tonight at my brother's house, of course his electricity went off last night, you know what it's like getting an electrician on a Sunday. Then this morning my Father cut his foot and had to get it glued together (he thought it might be Elmer's glue). Now 2 of the plagues in the bible that fell upon Pharaoh were daylight turning into blackness and water turning into blood, so if we have an infestation of locusts and frogs..we are up a creek! The 2nd night's dinner is at Papa's house. Kathy and I have been very busy boiling and peeling 72 hard boiled eggs and making Charoset for 30 guests and the school class that my Papa volunteers with. It is a family effort and worth it all.
May you all have a wonderful Holiday no matter what Religion you practice. Thank you for joining my family and being part of this blog.
Be Joyful, Be Colorful and Be Superb!
R
Ps...The foods we eat have meaning or represent part of the story of the Jewish slaves leaving Egypt...Eggs-life, Charoset=mortar that built the pyramids.
As I have said in the past, i am not the most religious Jewish guy out there, but I have to admit that Passover is my favorite of all the Jewish Holidays. What can be bad about a Holiday where you don't have to go to Synagogue and the main celebration takes place around the dinner table.
As a child, Passover was a double edged sword. The great parts were, lots of food, my Nana's famous Matzoh Ball Soup and prizes we would get after the dinner for finding the afikomen (a piece of matzoh hidden by the adults, kind of a Jewish Easter Egg hunt). The earliest memory of this was when we were visiting my Mother's parents and family in Miami. I remember finding the afikoman an I was given 2 rolls of pennies. I asked how much money that was, they told me it was 100 cents...OMG..I was rich! I thought that was a tremendous amount of money. I also loved making the special brownie and cake mixes with my Dad. It was our job to make the cakes and a mix of chopped apples. walnuts, raisins, cinnamon and sweet wine called charoset. I got to chop the nuts and it was great bonding time with my Dad.
Now to the bad part...The Four Questions... The darn four questions that the youngest child in the family had to sing in Hebrew at the dinner. Now, as I have mentioned, Hebrew was never easy for me so it was always a nerve wracking experience.And darn if I wasn't the youngest grandchild until I was like 17..I was so ready to to have someone else deal with the pressure of the "Four Questions'. I still get resentful when my nephews get out of having to do it alone..If I had to suffer, so do they!!!!...whewww sorry..It's a sore subject..lol. Ok..better now.
One year, while I was living in Florida, I decided to have my own Passover Seder (dinner). My parents were coming back from a Cruise and they were arriving back on Passover. So it was going to be Me, Rex, My Parents and 3 non Jewish friends from work. Now as a child, it had always been a tradition that we always brought one non-Jewish friend to our Seders, so I wanted to continue that tradition. Now usually it takes a few people to cook a full passover dinner, but I was dead set to do it on my own. I spent 3 days getting ready, cooking, cleaning, by the time my Parents got there I was ready to pass out. I had made my own Matzoh Ball's but asked my dad to put the chicken soup mix in the water. Only one problem, I gave him two packages of soup mix and only put in enough water for one. Both the Matzoh Balls and the soup tasted like we had gotten the water directly from the Salt Lake. It was the worst dinner! That was the one and only time I ever tried cooking a dinner for anyone.
Part of the traditions of Passover is that the Spirit of Elijah the profit comes to all the houses and sips from the wine glass that has been poured for him. Now while we sing a song for him someone always goes to the front door and opens it so that he can enter. A few years ago, One of my nephews opens the door and we are singing loudly...and in walks a man....it was my van driver coming to pick me up...I'm not sure who was more shocked.
That brings me to the present. The first Seder is tonight at my brother's house, of course his electricity went off last night, you know what it's like getting an electrician on a Sunday. Then this morning my Father cut his foot and had to get it glued together (he thought it might be Elmer's glue). Now 2 of the plagues in the bible that fell upon Pharaoh were daylight turning into blackness and water turning into blood, so if we have an infestation of locusts and frogs..we are up a creek! The 2nd night's dinner is at Papa's house. Kathy and I have been very busy boiling and peeling 72 hard boiled eggs and making Charoset for 30 guests and the school class that my Papa volunteers with. It is a family effort and worth it all.
May you all have a wonderful Holiday no matter what Religion you practice. Thank you for joining my family and being part of this blog.
Be Joyful, Be Colorful and Be Superb!
R
Ps...The foods we eat have meaning or represent part of the story of the Jewish slaves leaving Egypt...Eggs-life, Charoset=mortar that built the pyramids.
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Best Foot Forward
Over the years of dealing with my assorted physical disabilities I have come to the conclusion that I can deal with life in 2 different ways. The first way is to be a miserable, nasty person who despises the world and hates life. The other option was to live the best life I can and use love of life and humor to conquer anything that comes along in my life. Of course I chose the first and you can all go screw off..hehe...Only kidding of course.
If my humor ever came in handy, it was while I was fighting the infection in my left foot..hey.."My Left Foot" good name for a movie...lol. Anyway, I was actually very luck because I had no feeling in my legs before they started with seven surgeries over a year and a half. Here I was with foot wounds that made all my nurses cringe, and I felt nothing. When it came to the time when there was no doubt that I would have to have an amputation, I realised, What's the difference, a sick foot that I couldn't feel or a healthy prosthetic. It was an easy choice.
The night before the amputation was scary..I was actually mourning for my foot. Going through my foots whole life history in my head. Thinking about stupid things like I can't play 10 little piggies any more. I know this sounds stupid, but these are the things I thought. After the surgery, I think I slept for 3 days. I'll never forget one of the first times my Mom came to visit me. I made a joke about my leg and she just got a look of horror on her face..Then we all just laughed. Laughter is pure medicine. It took 3 weeks of healing before I could get my prosthetic.
Now we named the prosthetic "Falafel" One of my friends had sent me a nice but silly card that said "I hope you don't" and a picture of a bowl of falafel...I looked at the card for 3 days before I got the joke.. I hope you don't "FEEL AWFUL" lol
I got used to my prosthetic fairly quickly, Hey I couldn't feel my leg before so there was not much difference. Then the funny stuff happens. At least 5 times my doctors have tried to find my pulse and check for swelling in my fake leg. On Halloween, my nephews want to use my leg to collect their candy in. Sometimes when my leg is across the room and it falls, I will say "ouch" I also feel that since I had my leg for 38 years of my life, that I should be able to deduct a few years from my age since it's now gone..So technically, I want 3 years deducted. I do have one question...If I take my leg in my hands and hit my brother with it, Did I kick him? Just wondering.
Ok enough of that..I said humor helps, I didn't say it was good humor. Kathy an I are helping Papa get ready for the Passover holiday. A fun time. Papa's birthday is coming up soon too.
Sorry this blog is a bit disjointed,
Be springy, be colorful, Be Superb
R
If my humor ever came in handy, it was while I was fighting the infection in my left foot..hey.."My Left Foot" good name for a movie...lol. Anyway, I was actually very luck because I had no feeling in my legs before they started with seven surgeries over a year and a half. Here I was with foot wounds that made all my nurses cringe, and I felt nothing. When it came to the time when there was no doubt that I would have to have an amputation, I realised, What's the difference, a sick foot that I couldn't feel or a healthy prosthetic. It was an easy choice.
The night before the amputation was scary..I was actually mourning for my foot. Going through my foots whole life history in my head. Thinking about stupid things like I can't play 10 little piggies any more. I know this sounds stupid, but these are the things I thought. After the surgery, I think I slept for 3 days. I'll never forget one of the first times my Mom came to visit me. I made a joke about my leg and she just got a look of horror on her face..Then we all just laughed. Laughter is pure medicine. It took 3 weeks of healing before I could get my prosthetic.
Now we named the prosthetic "Falafel" One of my friends had sent me a nice but silly card that said "I hope you don't" and a picture of a bowl of falafel...I looked at the card for 3 days before I got the joke.. I hope you don't "FEEL AWFUL" lol
I got used to my prosthetic fairly quickly, Hey I couldn't feel my leg before so there was not much difference. Then the funny stuff happens. At least 5 times my doctors have tried to find my pulse and check for swelling in my fake leg. On Halloween, my nephews want to use my leg to collect their candy in. Sometimes when my leg is across the room and it falls, I will say "ouch" I also feel that since I had my leg for 38 years of my life, that I should be able to deduct a few years from my age since it's now gone..So technically, I want 3 years deducted. I do have one question...If I take my leg in my hands and hit my brother with it, Did I kick him? Just wondering.
Ok enough of that..I said humor helps, I didn't say it was good humor. Kathy an I are helping Papa get ready for the Passover holiday. A fun time. Papa's birthday is coming up soon too.
Sorry this blog is a bit disjointed,
Be springy, be colorful, Be Superb
R
Thursday, March 18, 2010
A King's Life- Postscript
After Rex passed away and he was put to rest I had to try to go on with my own life. I had a new job and I need to succeed at it. Never mind that my job was Customer Service at Macy's. You definitely can't do good customer service while your blubbering all the time. Deep in my heart though, I felt there were just too many loose ends left to Rex's life. I also knew that I had the most information about his past. I made it my goal to find Rex's Family and especially his son. I could not let them go through the rest of their lives wondering if and when he would come back or where he was.
Now I am really good at a few things, and procrastination in one of my specialities. It took me a long time to actually sit down and look at his papers that I had taken from his house. Finally one day I was looking through them and found his official court papers from his name change. There in front of me was his real name and his parents names. After some more detective work, I found his parents address and phone number. Now this was about 3 years after he had passed away...I told you I procrastinate. Now I had no phone at this time in my life so I started writing them a letter which took about six months to write. I mean how do you tell a stranger that their son is dead...it was a difficult process. It sat ready to be sent for many more months.
It had been years since Rex had died. One night I decided to go to an Overeaters Anonymous meeting, the closest one was in Hollywood. The first time I had been there since we cleaned out Rex's house. I was distracted the whole time and left in the middle of the meeting. Driving home I was in tears begging for Rex to let me know he was OK. I decided I had to find the supportive letter that Rex had written to me while I was in the Eating Disorder Clinic, I had not been able to find it. As soon as I got to my home I went straight to a letter holder that I had searched many times before...and there it was. It said everything I needed it to say and ended with "Love Forever, Your Friend...Rex" I knew then it was time to send the letter, and I did.
A few month later my doorbell rang, I answered the door and there were two police officers standings there. I actually recognized one of them from the "COPS" TV show. They asked me if I knew a Rex King and had I sent a letter to someone. I told them yes and explained the letter a bit. They told me that Rex's Mother wanted me to call her collect. I immediately went to the payphone (remember those..lol) I called her and she was very receptive to me. Her son was a police officer and she was not sure if I was hoaxing them so that's why they called the Police in Florida. We spoke for over an hour. It was rewarding for both of us. When I finally got my own phone I kept in touch with her.
Now, while letting his parents have some closure was one of my goal, I really wanted to contact Rex's son Christian to let him know how much Rex hoped for a reunion one day and how much he loved him. Rex's mother did have some contact with Chris, but was hesitant to have me connect with him. I understood and felt if it's meant to happen, it would.
When my Nana passed away, I made the trip up to New Jersey. I brought some of Rex's papers knowing that I might get to meet his family in NYC. After the funeral, I called his Mother and we arraigned for them to come to my house one day. It was sort of awkward with mourners stopping by but I happily got to meet his Mother, Father, Brother, Sister and Nephew. I got to give them some of his belongings and pictures. A few months later I got a Valentines Card from his mom...It said" Chris is ready to talk to you!" I was so excited! She gave me his number. I was planning another trip to NJ, so I packed Rex's prized possessions...a number of Dragons statues that he loved and collected.
When I got to NJ, I called him and he and his bride of a few months arranged to meet me at my parents. Through all of this, I had hoped I was doing the right thing. When I laid eyes on Chris, there was no doubt that he was Rex's son. He was a very handsome 21 y/o young man. He was also a Police Officer. As we were talking, I gave Chris the Dragons, He made a strange face and we continued talking. I notices a tattoo sticking out of Chris's t-shirt, I asked what it was, he smiled and showed me a huge Dragon tattoo. It was then that I realized that Rex had been with his son all along. I was at peace. I had done all I could to finish things for Rex.
The one thing that Rex would have loved is the Internet. When I first logged on, I decided that he would surf along in spirit with me..thus my email name...Rick3rex. He was my teacher and friend in every sense of the words. He lives on in me and now in this blog. Thank you all for letting me write about him.
Be open, Be honest and Be Superb!
R
Now I am really good at a few things, and procrastination in one of my specialities. It took me a long time to actually sit down and look at his papers that I had taken from his house. Finally one day I was looking through them and found his official court papers from his name change. There in front of me was his real name and his parents names. After some more detective work, I found his parents address and phone number. Now this was about 3 years after he had passed away...I told you I procrastinate. Now I had no phone at this time in my life so I started writing them a letter which took about six months to write. I mean how do you tell a stranger that their son is dead...it was a difficult process. It sat ready to be sent for many more months.
It had been years since Rex had died. One night I decided to go to an Overeaters Anonymous meeting, the closest one was in Hollywood. The first time I had been there since we cleaned out Rex's house. I was distracted the whole time and left in the middle of the meeting. Driving home I was in tears begging for Rex to let me know he was OK. I decided I had to find the supportive letter that Rex had written to me while I was in the Eating Disorder Clinic, I had not been able to find it. As soon as I got to my home I went straight to a letter holder that I had searched many times before...and there it was. It said everything I needed it to say and ended with "Love Forever, Your Friend...Rex" I knew then it was time to send the letter, and I did.
A few month later my doorbell rang, I answered the door and there were two police officers standings there. I actually recognized one of them from the "COPS" TV show. They asked me if I knew a Rex King and had I sent a letter to someone. I told them yes and explained the letter a bit. They told me that Rex's Mother wanted me to call her collect. I immediately went to the payphone (remember those..lol) I called her and she was very receptive to me. Her son was a police officer and she was not sure if I was hoaxing them so that's why they called the Police in Florida. We spoke for over an hour. It was rewarding for both of us. When I finally got my own phone I kept in touch with her.
Now, while letting his parents have some closure was one of my goal, I really wanted to contact Rex's son Christian to let him know how much Rex hoped for a reunion one day and how much he loved him. Rex's mother did have some contact with Chris, but was hesitant to have me connect with him. I understood and felt if it's meant to happen, it would.
When my Nana passed away, I made the trip up to New Jersey. I brought some of Rex's papers knowing that I might get to meet his family in NYC. After the funeral, I called his Mother and we arraigned for them to come to my house one day. It was sort of awkward with mourners stopping by but I happily got to meet his Mother, Father, Brother, Sister and Nephew. I got to give them some of his belongings and pictures. A few months later I got a Valentines Card from his mom...It said" Chris is ready to talk to you!" I was so excited! She gave me his number. I was planning another trip to NJ, so I packed Rex's prized possessions...a number of Dragons statues that he loved and collected.
When I got to NJ, I called him and he and his bride of a few months arranged to meet me at my parents. Through all of this, I had hoped I was doing the right thing. When I laid eyes on Chris, there was no doubt that he was Rex's son. He was a very handsome 21 y/o young man. He was also a Police Officer. As we were talking, I gave Chris the Dragons, He made a strange face and we continued talking. I notices a tattoo sticking out of Chris's t-shirt, I asked what it was, he smiled and showed me a huge Dragon tattoo. It was then that I realized that Rex had been with his son all along. I was at peace. I had done all I could to finish things for Rex.
The one thing that Rex would have loved is the Internet. When I first logged on, I decided that he would surf along in spirit with me..thus my email name...Rick3rex. He was my teacher and friend in every sense of the words. He lives on in me and now in this blog. Thank you all for letting me write about him.
Be open, Be honest and Be Superb!
R
Monday, March 15, 2010
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Humpty Dumpty
Hey There,
I take a brief break from Rex's Story to say that my life gets very weird sometimes. Now, age has not been kind to me in the hair on my head department. Ok I'm pretty bald...and for some reason, since my hospitalization two years ago, my hair grows in very unevenly. Not sure why...anyway. I still have some hair and I'm not eager for that hair to leave me just yet.
So...my brother and his family have gone to the same barber for many years now. He is about 80 years old and also a friend of my fathers. Now since I moved to Green Bay, he has been coming out to my house to cut my hair since there is no wheelchair access to his shop. Now he is a friend of the family so I overlook when he calls me by my brothers name and I even overlook it when he asks "Who is heavier, you or your brother? But today he did it..He started buzzing my hair, he always uses an attachment so it's not too short. He started buzzing and I felt metal against my skin...I asked "Are you using the attachment" to which he responded "NO..I didn't bring it..Oh well...Too late!" OMG!!!! "OH WELL, TOO LATE!!! I now know how Humpty Dumpty felt..I am as BALD as a baby. Kojack had more hair then me! I could play Mr Potato Head in the next TOY STORY. Ok, i know it will grow back, but right now I want to cover every mirror and freak out.
Btw has anyone ever had a burger from Five Guys, If so, was it any good? They are opening one here. Ok I'm calmer now.
Be Hairy, Be dry (from the rain) and Be Superb
Bald R
I take a brief break from Rex's Story to say that my life gets very weird sometimes. Now, age has not been kind to me in the hair on my head department. Ok I'm pretty bald...and for some reason, since my hospitalization two years ago, my hair grows in very unevenly. Not sure why...anyway. I still have some hair and I'm not eager for that hair to leave me just yet.
So...my brother and his family have gone to the same barber for many years now. He is about 80 years old and also a friend of my fathers. Now since I moved to Green Bay, he has been coming out to my house to cut my hair since there is no wheelchair access to his shop. Now he is a friend of the family so I overlook when he calls me by my brothers name and I even overlook it when he asks "Who is heavier, you or your brother? But today he did it..He started buzzing my hair, he always uses an attachment so it's not too short. He started buzzing and I felt metal against my skin...I asked "Are you using the attachment" to which he responded "NO..I didn't bring it..Oh well...Too late!" OMG!!!! "OH WELL, TOO LATE!!! I now know how Humpty Dumpty felt..I am as BALD as a baby. Kojack had more hair then me! I could play Mr Potato Head in the next TOY STORY. Ok, i know it will grow back, but right now I want to cover every mirror and freak out.
Btw has anyone ever had a burger from Five Guys, If so, was it any good? They are opening one here. Ok I'm calmer now.
Be Hairy, Be dry (from the rain) and Be Superb
Bald R
Thursday, March 11, 2010
A King's Life - Part 3
Hey All,
As the 80" continued, Rex and I continued our friendship, but since he was living in Hollywood (Florida..totally fitting for him) and I lived about 20 miles away in Lauderdale Lakes, we did not get to see each other as often as before. We would still speak often. I was working for a travel company named Flyfaire Vacations and as always Rex was playing the starving artist. He would have a job here and a job there, even though he was totally qualified for any job, His yearning to be a "Star" prevented him from taking long term jobs.
Rex was always a bit of a man of mystery. He was very careful with the information that he gave to people about his past or his family. Over the years I had gotten him to give up bits and pieces of his past (usually when he was in an altered state). The first thing I learned was that Rex King was not his original name (really what mother would name your child King King, since Rex is King in Latin). Over the years Rex used many different middle names...the most unusual being Rex Solarexus Universon King....enuf said,,,I told you he was unique! I learned the he had been in the Army during Vietnam and was part of the USO. I learned that Rex was born in NYC and had a horrible relationship with his Mother. He had been married and had one child who they named Christian. He was divorced and had not seen his child in many years. He said his child was a handsome 4 year old who told Rex to go out in the world and find himself, which is what did. Of course this was all told to me by Rex... He often did exaggerate. He had not had any contact with anyone from his family at that time for over 10-15 years. He often said that he hoped that his son might look for him some day.
One day Rex called me and I drove down to Hollywood to treat him for lunch at Wendy's. Rex had been a bit nervous. He had gone for an HIV test and had been waiting for the results. He had tested negative about six months prior, but was apprehensive about this one. While eating I asked if he had gotten the results and he said yes, they were positive...my heart sank, but he was so strong about it, I was going to be strong too. He had an appointment with a Dr at the Veteran's Hospital, luckily his care was all taken care of by the VA. Life went on, but deep in my heart I both worried about his health, his lack of funds and the possibility of losing my best friend.
When I had checked into the Eating Disorder Clinic, Rex was so supportive even coming to some of the therapy sessions with me. Now Rex's diagnosis was one of the issues that I was dealing with. He was very upset when he found out that I had talked about him in group therapy, he did not understand how his status effected me. I tried to explain, but he was so scared that people would find out. The late 80's were full of ignorance and hysteria about Aids.
Our friendship started to falter because he felt I betrayed him. We would argue, and then not speak for months at a time. I worried and missed him, but I was also going through my own severe depression.
The company I worked for went bankrupt, I was on unemployment. I'm not sure who called who, but we eventually started talking again. He had just filmed a role in a Burt Reynold's TV show called B.L. Stryker...Had little money, but was getting help from his talent manager. He said his legs were bothering him..something called neuropathy (something I would learn a great deal about in later years). Now over the years, if Rex would need something, I would loan him the money. It was really money I couldn't afford to give, but that's what friends do. He would sometimes come and clean up my apartment as my housekeeping lacked big time. One day we were talking and Rex was saying that he didn't want to do any work as an extra anymore. An extra is a person in the background of films. He wanted only big roles. Now at that time he had been offered over $200.00 a day to be an extra and he refused it. I blew up, He was eating crackers with ketchup, he was getting thinner, he wasn't taking care of himself and yes, very selfishly, He could work one day to pay me back some of the money he owed me. I told him it was getting too hard to be his friend and I hung up the phone.
I'm really not sure how many months went by, but I had just started a new job at Macy's. The phone rang, A woman's voice asked to speak to Richard, I responded that was me. She said that she was calling from the Veteran's Hospital....My heart immediately sank. Mr. Rex King had you on his contact list and I'm sorry to inform you that he has passed away. You and one other person, a woman named Elva are the only two people on his contact list. There is no next of kin and we need one of you to approve an autopsy and to decide on burial. She gave me Elva's number and that was the end of the call. The date was March 12, 1990 ... 20 years ago today.
My life was thrown into a whirlwind. I felt so guilty, I let stupid little things and money come between my friend and I. I felt I had totally let down my friend and abandoned him when he needed me the most. How could Rex King die, he was so much bigger than life. I contacted Elva, She had been taking care of him and basically told me it was my turn. She told me that she trusted my decisions. I cried all night and went to work in the morning in tears. I left work soon after to go meet his landlord/manager at Rex's house. Now the biggest problem that I had was that none of Rex's friend knew each other. Most never knew he was sick. Over the next week a few friend and I cleaned out his house each taking meaningful trinkets. We donated his clothing to the local Aids charity. we agreed that if an autopsy could be helpful to other, that it should be done. I met with the funeral home. fortunately Rex was a veteran and would be buried in the Florida National Cemetery. I believed he wanted to be cremated and his ashes spread onto the ocean at sunrise, but only a blood relative could authorize that, and I had no clue who or where they were. His agent planned an informal memorial at her house. The fascinating part of that evening was that each person knew a different Rex King. He had been a chameleon, adapting to each person he knew. I was not financially able to go to the funeral. I did everything I could to put Rex to rest. I still never got to say goodbye and to apologize to him for being a brat. I still think sometimes that he will just walk in my door.
Rex was now part of the Universe and he is now and will always be a Star. My next journey was to search for his family, I will write about that in the next blog. One of the best things that Rex taught me was that energy never dies, when someone passes, their energy is simply passed to those who knew them. Rex lives on in all the people he touched and loved. He taught me so much about life and for that I will love and miss him forever. I have no doubt that it was Rex and my Mother pushing me back to life 2 years ago. I hope he would be proud of who I am today. He is always in my mind and in my heart.
So be Loving, Be giving and as Rex always said...Be Superb!
R
1947-1990
As the 80" continued, Rex and I continued our friendship, but since he was living in Hollywood (Florida..totally fitting for him) and I lived about 20 miles away in Lauderdale Lakes, we did not get to see each other as often as before. We would still speak often. I was working for a travel company named Flyfaire Vacations and as always Rex was playing the starving artist. He would have a job here and a job there, even though he was totally qualified for any job, His yearning to be a "Star" prevented him from taking long term jobs.
Rex was always a bit of a man of mystery. He was very careful with the information that he gave to people about his past or his family. Over the years I had gotten him to give up bits and pieces of his past (usually when he was in an altered state). The first thing I learned was that Rex King was not his original name (really what mother would name your child King King, since Rex is King in Latin). Over the years Rex used many different middle names...the most unusual being Rex Solarexus Universon King....enuf said,,,I told you he was unique! I learned the he had been in the Army during Vietnam and was part of the USO. I learned that Rex was born in NYC and had a horrible relationship with his Mother. He had been married and had one child who they named Christian. He was divorced and had not seen his child in many years. He said his child was a handsome 4 year old who told Rex to go out in the world and find himself, which is what did. Of course this was all told to me by Rex... He often did exaggerate. He had not had any contact with anyone from his family at that time for over 10-15 years. He often said that he hoped that his son might look for him some day.
One day Rex called me and I drove down to Hollywood to treat him for lunch at Wendy's. Rex had been a bit nervous. He had gone for an HIV test and had been waiting for the results. He had tested negative about six months prior, but was apprehensive about this one. While eating I asked if he had gotten the results and he said yes, they were positive...my heart sank, but he was so strong about it, I was going to be strong too. He had an appointment with a Dr at the Veteran's Hospital, luckily his care was all taken care of by the VA. Life went on, but deep in my heart I both worried about his health, his lack of funds and the possibility of losing my best friend.
When I had checked into the Eating Disorder Clinic, Rex was so supportive even coming to some of the therapy sessions with me. Now Rex's diagnosis was one of the issues that I was dealing with. He was very upset when he found out that I had talked about him in group therapy, he did not understand how his status effected me. I tried to explain, but he was so scared that people would find out. The late 80's were full of ignorance and hysteria about Aids.
Our friendship started to falter because he felt I betrayed him. We would argue, and then not speak for months at a time. I worried and missed him, but I was also going through my own severe depression.
The company I worked for went bankrupt, I was on unemployment. I'm not sure who called who, but we eventually started talking again. He had just filmed a role in a Burt Reynold's TV show called B.L. Stryker...Had little money, but was getting help from his talent manager. He said his legs were bothering him..something called neuropathy (something I would learn a great deal about in later years). Now over the years, if Rex would need something, I would loan him the money. It was really money I couldn't afford to give, but that's what friends do. He would sometimes come and clean up my apartment as my housekeeping lacked big time. One day we were talking and Rex was saying that he didn't want to do any work as an extra anymore. An extra is a person in the background of films. He wanted only big roles. Now at that time he had been offered over $200.00 a day to be an extra and he refused it. I blew up, He was eating crackers with ketchup, he was getting thinner, he wasn't taking care of himself and yes, very selfishly, He could work one day to pay me back some of the money he owed me. I told him it was getting too hard to be his friend and I hung up the phone.
I'm really not sure how many months went by, but I had just started a new job at Macy's. The phone rang, A woman's voice asked to speak to Richard, I responded that was me. She said that she was calling from the Veteran's Hospital....My heart immediately sank. Mr. Rex King had you on his contact list and I'm sorry to inform you that he has passed away. You and one other person, a woman named Elva are the only two people on his contact list. There is no next of kin and we need one of you to approve an autopsy and to decide on burial. She gave me Elva's number and that was the end of the call. The date was March 12, 1990 ... 20 years ago today.
My life was thrown into a whirlwind. I felt so guilty, I let stupid little things and money come between my friend and I. I felt I had totally let down my friend and abandoned him when he needed me the most. How could Rex King die, he was so much bigger than life. I contacted Elva, She had been taking care of him and basically told me it was my turn. She told me that she trusted my decisions. I cried all night and went to work in the morning in tears. I left work soon after to go meet his landlord/manager at Rex's house. Now the biggest problem that I had was that none of Rex's friend knew each other. Most never knew he was sick. Over the next week a few friend and I cleaned out his house each taking meaningful trinkets. We donated his clothing to the local Aids charity. we agreed that if an autopsy could be helpful to other, that it should be done. I met with the funeral home. fortunately Rex was a veteran and would be buried in the Florida National Cemetery. I believed he wanted to be cremated and his ashes spread onto the ocean at sunrise, but only a blood relative could authorize that, and I had no clue who or where they were. His agent planned an informal memorial at her house. The fascinating part of that evening was that each person knew a different Rex King. He had been a chameleon, adapting to each person he knew. I was not financially able to go to the funeral. I did everything I could to put Rex to rest. I still never got to say goodbye and to apologize to him for being a brat. I still think sometimes that he will just walk in my door.
Rex was now part of the Universe and he is now and will always be a Star. My next journey was to search for his family, I will write about that in the next blog. One of the best things that Rex taught me was that energy never dies, when someone passes, their energy is simply passed to those who knew them. Rex lives on in all the people he touched and loved. He taught me so much about life and for that I will love and miss him forever. I have no doubt that it was Rex and my Mother pushing me back to life 2 years ago. I hope he would be proud of who I am today. He is always in my mind and in my heart.
So be Loving, Be giving and as Rex always said...Be Superb!
R
1947-1990
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
A King's Life - Part 2
I got my Associates Degree in 1983. Mr. King had helped me get some credits I needed to graduate by letting me help teach a high school drama class at the Catholic high school that shared our campus. When I returned in the fall, there was a new drama teacher...he was no Mr. King. I had moved into my own apt in Boca and I was just beginning to come out of the closet. A difficult and confusing time to say the least.
One day I was doing some business in my bank when someone comes up behind me and taps me on the back..I turn to see this African American man with short shorts, a half t-shirt and a Michael Jackson jheri curl (it was the 80's)...there was Mr. King in all his glory. He told me to please call him Rex, Mr. King was the teacher...This was Rex King...We spoke for a while and I learned that he lived right down the street from me. My friend Jay and I were planning a 21st birthday for myself and I mentioned that he should come. He gave me his phone number and told me to call him with details. I called, he came to the party. That was the day that Rex became my best friend. We spoke at least once a day and spent many hours laughing together over the next years. Now just to make it clear, our friendship was just that, a friendship..never anything more.
Rex was a very complicated, multi layered, metaphysical person. He was very into the universe, now for a 21 year old..I never really gripped all of his philosophies, but he truly became a surrogate father, mother, brother and sister for me. He was a constant student of everything,..philosophies, religions, business...He was also the starving actor. His plan was to to big a huge star. He became a huge part of my life, when I was down, he would bring me up and visa verse. Now it was always hard to peg Rex in any way..When I asked him his age, He would say "I'm as old as the universe and as young as my next thought" When I would ask him if he was gay,bi or straight he would say he was a "sexual being". Every job he had was just another acting job for him. "I'm not a waiter, I'm just playing a waiter" Once I saw a calendar he had in his apartment. He had written on every day that it was his birthday..1st day of my birthday, 2nd day of my birthday....126th day of my birthday... It was the his Year of Birthdays.
It did not take much to entertain us. We would smoke some...ummm..you know...and watch wrestling with the sound off and dub in our own sounds. He anmd I would sing for hours and hours. One Hanukkah we were lighting the candles together. My friend Vicki was also over since she was Jewish too. We were watching the candles burn and Vicki went to light her cigarette with the candle, the next thing I knew, the cigarette was flying thru the air across the room after Rex hit it out of her out of her mouth. He was angry because it was sacrilegious to use the candle that way. She never did that again.
When my Parents would come visit, it was usually on their way to go on a Cruise Ship. Rex would drive us all to Miami and He would run around the ship, have a few cocktails and treat the 2 hours he had on the ship like his own little week long cruise. Then we would go back to real life. I think my Parents loved Rex, did'nt really get him, but knew how good he was to me.
Rex would put up with all of my insanity too. Every time my parents came down to visit, I would have to de-gayify and de-smokify my apartment. Rex would always try to tell me that I should just be myself when they were there, but I was still in my "Richard had to be perfect for my parents" stage.
Over time, we became integral parts of each others lives. He was very supportive when I went into the eating disorders clinic and even came to a few therapy sessions with me. When I came back from North Carolina, I lived in North Miami for a bit, During that time he moved in with me while he filmed a movie in Miami. Rex loved South Florida and always wondered if he could still become a star and working actor there instead of L.A.. Then came Miami Vice. He became a regular playing a back round cop in the office scenes. Unfortunately, he looked a bit too much like Tubbs to get a major role, but he worked pretty regularly. He also did a show at the Burt Reynold's Dinner Theater directed by Charles Nelson Reilly. While on a tour of Burt's Ranch, they stopped by the Gift Shop where the cast each got to pick out one item, Rex of course had to have the snakeskin boots because they went with the cowboy hat..Rex was never shy about asking for anything he wanted. I was working, Rex was working...it was a good time in our lives.
I hope I'm not boring you with this, but I've always wanted and needed to write about Rex. one more section of this coming. I hope you are all feeling a bit of Spring. All for now.
Be Springy, Be Greatful, Be Superb
R
One day I was doing some business in my bank when someone comes up behind me and taps me on the back..I turn to see this African American man with short shorts, a half t-shirt and a Michael Jackson jheri curl (it was the 80's)...there was Mr. King in all his glory. He told me to please call him Rex, Mr. King was the teacher...This was Rex King...We spoke for a while and I learned that he lived right down the street from me. My friend Jay and I were planning a 21st birthday for myself and I mentioned that he should come. He gave me his phone number and told me to call him with details. I called, he came to the party. That was the day that Rex became my best friend. We spoke at least once a day and spent many hours laughing together over the next years. Now just to make it clear, our friendship was just that, a friendship..never anything more.
Rex was a very complicated, multi layered, metaphysical person. He was very into the universe, now for a 21 year old..I never really gripped all of his philosophies, but he truly became a surrogate father, mother, brother and sister for me. He was a constant student of everything,..philosophies, religions, business...He was also the starving actor. His plan was to to big a huge star. He became a huge part of my life, when I was down, he would bring me up and visa verse. Now it was always hard to peg Rex in any way..When I asked him his age, He would say "I'm as old as the universe and as young as my next thought" When I would ask him if he was gay,bi or straight he would say he was a "sexual being". Every job he had was just another acting job for him. "I'm not a waiter, I'm just playing a waiter" Once I saw a calendar he had in his apartment. He had written on every day that it was his birthday..1st day of my birthday, 2nd day of my birthday....126th day of my birthday... It was the his Year of Birthdays.
It did not take much to entertain us. We would smoke some...ummm..you know...and watch wrestling with the sound off and dub in our own sounds. He anmd I would sing for hours and hours. One Hanukkah we were lighting the candles together. My friend Vicki was also over since she was Jewish too. We were watching the candles burn and Vicki went to light her cigarette with the candle, the next thing I knew, the cigarette was flying thru the air across the room after Rex hit it out of her out of her mouth. He was angry because it was sacrilegious to use the candle that way. She never did that again.
When my Parents would come visit, it was usually on their way to go on a Cruise Ship. Rex would drive us all to Miami and He would run around the ship, have a few cocktails and treat the 2 hours he had on the ship like his own little week long cruise. Then we would go back to real life. I think my Parents loved Rex, did'nt really get him, but knew how good he was to me.
Rex would put up with all of my insanity too. Every time my parents came down to visit, I would have to de-gayify and de-smokify my apartment. Rex would always try to tell me that I should just be myself when they were there, but I was still in my "Richard had to be perfect for my parents" stage.
Over time, we became integral parts of each others lives. He was very supportive when I went into the eating disorders clinic and even came to a few therapy sessions with me. When I came back from North Carolina, I lived in North Miami for a bit, During that time he moved in with me while he filmed a movie in Miami. Rex loved South Florida and always wondered if he could still become a star and working actor there instead of L.A.. Then came Miami Vice. He became a regular playing a back round cop in the office scenes. Unfortunately, he looked a bit too much like Tubbs to get a major role, but he worked pretty regularly. He also did a show at the Burt Reynold's Dinner Theater directed by Charles Nelson Reilly. While on a tour of Burt's Ranch, they stopped by the Gift Shop where the cast each got to pick out one item, Rex of course had to have the snakeskin boots because they went with the cowboy hat..Rex was never shy about asking for anything he wanted. I was working, Rex was working...it was a good time in our lives.
I hope I'm not boring you with this, but I've always wanted and needed to write about Rex. one more section of this coming. I hope you are all feeling a bit of Spring. All for now.
Be Springy, Be Greatful, Be Superb
R
Friday, March 5, 2010
A King's Life
Hey All,
I hope the first week of March is treating you all well. Here in Green Bay we are actually feeling a bit of Spring, Which I welcome with great joy!
I think I have been pretty lucky to have great role models who have shaped my life. Of course the top of my list would be my wonderful parents and family. I was lucky enough to meet another person who I learned a great deal from and I want to share him with you. I often see on TV people asked if there is one teacher you had that affected you the most...Mr. King was that teacher for me.
While still getting acclimated to snakes and confederate flags during my first semester at college, I met my dorm neighbor Greg who was a Drama student. Being fairly shy, I didn't even realize that they had a Drama Program at the school. One day Greg asked me if I could help him learn his lines for the first semester show. I was eager to help so I sat in his room reading lines from two short plays they were performing. As we read lines, I was quite confused...The plays were quite bizarre, different from anything I had ever read. As time went on we began talking about the Director of the plays who was also the Director of the Drama Program and the Author of one of the plays... His name was Mr. King. Greg would tell me that he was quite an unusual guy. He was African American, had diamond earring as in both ears (unheard of at the time) and he wore a suit and tie every day but road a motorcycle to school that had a licence tag on the back that said "GOD'S SON".
During the semester I would see Mr King upstairs at the Student Cafe at 3pm every day when nearly the whole campus would gather to watch Luke and Laura on General Hospital. For some reason I was very intimidated by Mr. King. I finally got up the nerve to tell him that I loved theater and was wondering if I could help him with the box office for his upcoming performance.
I did just that and when it came time for auditions for the Parents Weekend Show the following semester, both Greg and I auditioned. That was the first of four Mr King shows that I was in during college. Now a Mr King show was different than any other shows I had ever done. First of all, Mr. King usually acted in all his shows. His job outside of school was as an actor we would later learn. The facilities we prrformed in were, let's say unconventional..our dressing room was the Catholic Chapel and if you wanted privacy, you used the confessional to change clothes. Unfortunately one student decided to use the holy water bowl as a ash tray...it was not pretty, but we made do.
When my Mom and Dad came to our Parent's Weekend performance they got to meet Mr. King. We were driving out of the school and onto the main road when all of a sudden we heard nonstop beeping behind us. Next thing we knew Mr. King was leaping out of his car and running out to our car in the middle of the street and introducing himself to my parents and blocking traffic on two streets. Lets just say he knew how to make entrance and an introduction.
Mr. King was an enigma. He was charming but brash, He was professional but playful. Nobody could ever peg him. We all gossiped that he was sleeping with this guy or this girl. As a teacher, he was great. I learned more about acting from him then ever before. When he left the school after my first two years...I was sad, but somehow I knew I would meet him again. Little did I know at that time that he would be an influence on my entire life. More on that in the next blog.
Be safe, Be joyful, Be Superb!
R
I hope the first week of March is treating you all well. Here in Green Bay we are actually feeling a bit of Spring, Which I welcome with great joy!
I think I have been pretty lucky to have great role models who have shaped my life. Of course the top of my list would be my wonderful parents and family. I was lucky enough to meet another person who I learned a great deal from and I want to share him with you. I often see on TV people asked if there is one teacher you had that affected you the most...Mr. King was that teacher for me.
While still getting acclimated to snakes and confederate flags during my first semester at college, I met my dorm neighbor Greg who was a Drama student. Being fairly shy, I didn't even realize that they had a Drama Program at the school. One day Greg asked me if I could help him learn his lines for the first semester show. I was eager to help so I sat in his room reading lines from two short plays they were performing. As we read lines, I was quite confused...The plays were quite bizarre, different from anything I had ever read. As time went on we began talking about the Director of the plays who was also the Director of the Drama Program and the Author of one of the plays... His name was Mr. King. Greg would tell me that he was quite an unusual guy. He was African American, had diamond earring as in both ears (unheard of at the time) and he wore a suit and tie every day but road a motorcycle to school that had a licence tag on the back that said "GOD'S SON".
During the semester I would see Mr King upstairs at the Student Cafe at 3pm every day when nearly the whole campus would gather to watch Luke and Laura on General Hospital. For some reason I was very intimidated by Mr. King. I finally got up the nerve to tell him that I loved theater and was wondering if I could help him with the box office for his upcoming performance.
I did just that and when it came time for auditions for the Parents Weekend Show the following semester, both Greg and I auditioned. That was the first of four Mr King shows that I was in during college. Now a Mr King show was different than any other shows I had ever done. First of all, Mr. King usually acted in all his shows. His job outside of school was as an actor we would later learn. The facilities we prrformed in were, let's say unconventional..our dressing room was the Catholic Chapel and if you wanted privacy, you used the confessional to change clothes. Unfortunately one student decided to use the holy water bowl as a ash tray...it was not pretty, but we made do.
When my Mom and Dad came to our Parent's Weekend performance they got to meet Mr. King. We were driving out of the school and onto the main road when all of a sudden we heard nonstop beeping behind us. Next thing we knew Mr. King was leaping out of his car and running out to our car in the middle of the street and introducing himself to my parents and blocking traffic on two streets. Lets just say he knew how to make entrance and an introduction.
Mr. King was an enigma. He was charming but brash, He was professional but playful. Nobody could ever peg him. We all gossiped that he was sleeping with this guy or this girl. As a teacher, he was great. I learned more about acting from him then ever before. When he left the school after my first two years...I was sad, but somehow I knew I would meet him again. Little did I know at that time that he would be an influence on my entire life. More on that in the next blog.
Be safe, Be joyful, Be Superb!
R
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Marching Forward
Happy March Everybody,
I can't believe that I've been writing this blog now for a whole 2 months. I thank you all for your kind comments that you have left both here and on Facebook. I hope that I am not sounding like a know it all or that I have all the answers. This is all part of my journey. Truthfully, when I started writing this, my plan was to make this kind of my daily journal of what is currently happening in my life. But truthfully, not much happens day to day in my life. So it has kind of melded into what I'm currently doing with how I got to this place in my life. I have had many little adventures and they have all combined to make me the person I am today. I appreciate you all for following this little journey with me.
I am a bit nervous and excited. I mentioned before that I am looking into trying to get my Bachelors Degree online. I have regretted never getting it back in 1985. So yesterday the current Dean of the Hospitality Management program at my former college (now a University...Woohoo) called me to discuss the possibility. He was very nice and he is checking my transcripts to see what is possible. I don't even know if this is financially feasible, but it is worth looking into. Am I up to it? Will I be successful? Am I biting off more than i can chew? All these questions are racing in my mind.
It's kinda strange, the small little Jr. College that we all nicknamed Camp Boca, really seems to have grown up. It is now a major University. I can't remember the name of our dorm back then, but I do remember the huge palmetto bugs. We all joked that one day we would walk into our rooms and find palmetto bugs smoking cigarettes, drinking beer and watching our TV's.
My first roommate lasted 2 days. That made room for my second roommate Tom. Tom was from Virginia and I was the first Jewish person he ever met. I knew this was going to be an interesting semester when he hung up a huge confederate flag in the room. Oy vey! A few weeks after school started, the Jewish High Holidays arrived So I asked Tom, Who had a car, for a ride to the local synagogue. Well he decided he would join me for the services...open minded...great. So we parked in the parking lot and Tom quickly asked me "Who are all these people?" I answered that they were here for the holiday services. He said "But they're not Jewish, they can't be!" Kind of startled I asked "What do you mean?" His answer was..." They can't be Jewish, They don't have a big nose and curly hair like you do!!!" Well First of all, I DON"T have a big nose, maybe a fat nose, but it's not that big...AND my hair was STRAIGHT! lol... So anyway..I was hopeful that Tom got a lesson in stereotyping that day...I know I got a lesson in antisemitism.
Then there was the snake....NO I'm not call Tom a snake, but about a month into school, he walks in with his new pet...a 3 foot python,,of course named...ready...ready...Monty Python...lol. Now this was all new to me...Monty went to snake obedience school, Tom had feeding parties where they would get Monty either high or drunk by getting his food (a mouse) drunk or high.
I eventually liked the snake better then Tom. Thankfully I became great friends with the guy in the next room, Greg. One semester was enough with Tom and for my second semester Greg and I roomed together. And we had no pets...well besides those darn palmetto bugs.
To think that now I may be able to get another degree, and I may be able to do it by computer...Ahh times have changed.
All for now.
Dream Big. Love life and Be Superb!
R
I can't believe that I've been writing this blog now for a whole 2 months. I thank you all for your kind comments that you have left both here and on Facebook. I hope that I am not sounding like a know it all or that I have all the answers. This is all part of my journey. Truthfully, when I started writing this, my plan was to make this kind of my daily journal of what is currently happening in my life. But truthfully, not much happens day to day in my life. So it has kind of melded into what I'm currently doing with how I got to this place in my life. I have had many little adventures and they have all combined to make me the person I am today. I appreciate you all for following this little journey with me.
I am a bit nervous and excited. I mentioned before that I am looking into trying to get my Bachelors Degree online. I have regretted never getting it back in 1985. So yesterday the current Dean of the Hospitality Management program at my former college (now a University...Woohoo) called me to discuss the possibility. He was very nice and he is checking my transcripts to see what is possible. I don't even know if this is financially feasible, but it is worth looking into. Am I up to it? Will I be successful? Am I biting off more than i can chew? All these questions are racing in my mind.
It's kinda strange, the small little Jr. College that we all nicknamed Camp Boca, really seems to have grown up. It is now a major University. I can't remember the name of our dorm back then, but I do remember the huge palmetto bugs. We all joked that one day we would walk into our rooms and find palmetto bugs smoking cigarettes, drinking beer and watching our TV's.
My first roommate lasted 2 days. That made room for my second roommate Tom. Tom was from Virginia and I was the first Jewish person he ever met. I knew this was going to be an interesting semester when he hung up a huge confederate flag in the room. Oy vey! A few weeks after school started, the Jewish High Holidays arrived So I asked Tom, Who had a car, for a ride to the local synagogue. Well he decided he would join me for the services...open minded...great. So we parked in the parking lot and Tom quickly asked me "Who are all these people?" I answered that they were here for the holiday services. He said "But they're not Jewish, they can't be!" Kind of startled I asked "What do you mean?" His answer was..." They can't be Jewish, They don't have a big nose and curly hair like you do!!!" Well First of all, I DON"T have a big nose, maybe a fat nose, but it's not that big...AND my hair was STRAIGHT! lol... So anyway..I was hopeful that Tom got a lesson in stereotyping that day...I know I got a lesson in antisemitism.
Then there was the snake....NO I'm not call Tom a snake, but about a month into school, he walks in with his new pet...a 3 foot python,,of course named...ready...ready...Monty Python...lol. Now this was all new to me...Monty went to snake obedience school, Tom had feeding parties where they would get Monty either high or drunk by getting his food (a mouse) drunk or high.
I eventually liked the snake better then Tom. Thankfully I became great friends with the guy in the next room, Greg. One semester was enough with Tom and for my second semester Greg and I roomed together. And we had no pets...well besides those darn palmetto bugs.
To think that now I may be able to get another degree, and I may be able to do it by computer...Ahh times have changed.
All for now.
Dream Big. Love life and Be Superb!
R
Sunday, February 28, 2010
"Darkness" and Light
Darkness
In the darkness
Am I alone
Am I safe
or in danger
In the dark
All the fear
The desperation
and anger
Where do I go
What do I do
Will the next
step bring me closer
Is safety near
or is it clear
That the next
is disaster
To the left or to the right
backwards or forwards
Which way do I go
to take me out of
the darkness and the danger
One ray of light
Only one ray of light
Will guide me on my journey
Only one ray of light
Just one ray of light
Will take me to my home
One step at a time
conquered one by one
It takes to climb
to the next one
As long as there's hope
I'll keep moving on
Don't stumble, just keep going
Don't look back
Just keep moving on
The light will guide my way
One ray of light
just one ray of light
Will take me out
of the Darkness
This was the first and only bit of poetry I ever attempted in my life. I wrote it at a very difficult time in my life. I was feeling like nothing I ever did was right. I felt stupid and unable to handle even the smallest task correctly. It was also the time that I broke through the depression. I saw that tiny little light that led my way.
With so many suicides in the news this past week it just reminded me that every life is beautiful and precious. No matter how much pain and suffering one goes through, there are ways to live a fullfilling and meaningfull life. If you know someones who is in crisis, get information, call hotlines, try your best to get them help and most importantly, let them know they are loved.
Life is never easy, but we must make the best out of it that we can. I apoligize that this was not a more humorous blog today, but I just felt that it's an important thing to say. Hug a person today!
In the darkness
Am I alone
Am I safe
or in danger
In the dark
All the fear
The desperation
and anger
Where do I go
What do I do
Will the next
step bring me closer
Is safety near
or is it clear
That the next
is disaster
To the left or to the right
backwards or forwards
Which way do I go
to take me out of
the darkness and the danger
One ray of light
Only one ray of light
Will guide me on my journey
Only one ray of light
Just one ray of light
Will take me to my home
One step at a time
conquered one by one
It takes to climb
to the next one
As long as there's hope
I'll keep moving on
Don't stumble, just keep going
Don't look back
Just keep moving on
The light will guide my way
One ray of light
just one ray of light
Will take me out
of the Darkness
This was the first and only bit of poetry I ever attempted in my life. I wrote it at a very difficult time in my life. I was feeling like nothing I ever did was right. I felt stupid and unable to handle even the smallest task correctly. It was also the time that I broke through the depression. I saw that tiny little light that led my way.
With so many suicides in the news this past week it just reminded me that every life is beautiful and precious. No matter how much pain and suffering one goes through, there are ways to live a fullfilling and meaningfull life. If you know someones who is in crisis, get information, call hotlines, try your best to get them help and most importantly, let them know they are loved.
Life is never easy, but we must make the best out of it that we can. I apoligize that this was not a more humorous blog today, but I just felt that it's an important thing to say. Hug a person today!
Be Loving, Be Empathetic and Be Superb!
R
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Please Watch This Video!
Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
Hi,
Please watch this video above. My family has been through this. I am lucky, I have Medicare. I coded in the hospital 3 times and I survived. At no time did my doctors say.."Well, He is not worth saving". They treated me like any human being who was very ill. No death panel, no sub-par treatment, no governmental intervention. Health care should never have been a for profit industry. We all should have the right to have inexpensive health care. I am no politician, I am just a person who has been ill for a long time. It breaks my heart hearing Keith's story. I pray for the people who don't have insurance. I pray for Keith and his father. I pray for America.
Be Vocal, Be Human, Be Superb!
R
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
There's No Business Like Show Business
Ok...It's no secret...I love Broadway and Theater. I always have! This weekend I got to go see my nephew Isaac in his high school's production of "Brigadoon" Now "Brigadoon" is the one show I had not seen or been in. I think when I was little, we skipped the "B's" and went right to the "C's" In my childhood, I performed in "Carousel", "Camelot", "Carnival" and "Calamity Jane" lol. I did a lot of theater in my childhood, but I have to say that nothing I did as a child could compare to my nephew's production of Brigadoon. The voices were amazing, the dancing outstanding and of course my nephew was brilliant in the chorus. The show was better then most of the Community Theater I've seen..and these were all high schoolers. It was a fantastic day for my Papa and I. We are all very proud of my nephew.
I was very lucky as a child to be exposed to quite a bit of both Broadway and Community Theater. I remember that we would take class trips to Broadway Shows and about once a year my parents would take us to eat dinner at Mama Leoni's and then we would go to a show. The one show that I longed to see was "Annie". My Dad made a deal with me..If I got a report card with no "D's" He would get me tickets. Well, that worked the opposite way...I think I got a "d" on my report card for the next 3 years. Finally my whole class went to see it. We actually got to see the final show for that current Annie, who happened to be Sarah Jessica Parker.
As a child, I think I wanted to grow up to be on The Carol Burnett Show..I wanted to be famous...The only thing that stopped me was ..lack of talent. Now I wasn't terrible, but I wasn't great either. The chorus was pretty much where I was in most shows. The one time in Jr High that I got a small speaking part was ummmm...interesting. I was playing Joe the bartender in "Calamity Jane". All I had to do was say a few lines and pretend to tend the bar..Well, they had put a riser behind the bar and gave me a stool so I could sit sometimes. Well stools only work when all four legs are on the riser. It was during our performance in front of my 9th grade class... My mother said she was watching and all of a sudden I disappeared behind the bar. Both I and all the bottles of fale booze fell to the stage. Quickly my friend Jaci took my place while I was being pulled off stage and the ambulance was called. I had hurt my ankle and as I was being wheeled out to the ambulance, The Assistant Principal was telling me..."I told you to break a leg but this was not what I meant. That was the closest I ever came to giving him the finger. I could also see every student peering out of the windows. They then wheeled me into the Emergency Room in full Western bartender garb and makeup (see pic below). The nurse only wanted to know where I worked. I ended up with a sprained ankle and Calamity Jane certainly lived up to it's name.
That was not the last time I made a fool of myself on stage but more about that another time. I did find that being part of a cast and being on stage were some of my favorite times. While I haven't been on stage for many years, I still think that watching good theater is the most entertaining, fun time that you can have. When I see a show or listen to a soundtrack, something happens inside me that is hard to describe. It gives me great joy!
That's all for now...BTW..What is your favorite show experience..Please put it in the comments.Thanks
I was very lucky as a child to be exposed to quite a bit of both Broadway and Community Theater. I remember that we would take class trips to Broadway Shows and about once a year my parents would take us to eat dinner at Mama Leoni's and then we would go to a show. The one show that I longed to see was "Annie". My Dad made a deal with me..If I got a report card with no "D's" He would get me tickets. Well, that worked the opposite way...I think I got a "d" on my report card for the next 3 years. Finally my whole class went to see it. We actually got to see the final show for that current Annie, who happened to be Sarah Jessica Parker.
As a child, I think I wanted to grow up to be on The Carol Burnett Show..I wanted to be famous...The only thing that stopped me was ..lack of talent. Now I wasn't terrible, but I wasn't great either. The chorus was pretty much where I was in most shows. The one time in Jr High that I got a small speaking part was ummmm...interesting. I was playing Joe the bartender in "Calamity Jane". All I had to do was say a few lines and pretend to tend the bar..Well, they had put a riser behind the bar and gave me a stool so I could sit sometimes. Well stools only work when all four legs are on the riser. It was during our performance in front of my 9th grade class... My mother said she was watching and all of a sudden I disappeared behind the bar. Both I and all the bottles of fale booze fell to the stage. Quickly my friend Jaci took my place while I was being pulled off stage and the ambulance was called. I had hurt my ankle and as I was being wheeled out to the ambulance, The Assistant Principal was telling me..."I told you to break a leg but this was not what I meant. That was the closest I ever came to giving him the finger. I could also see every student peering out of the windows. They then wheeled me into the Emergency Room in full Western bartender garb and makeup (see pic below). The nurse only wanted to know where I worked. I ended up with a sprained ankle and Calamity Jane certainly lived up to it's name.
That was not the last time I made a fool of myself on stage but more about that another time. I did find that being part of a cast and being on stage were some of my favorite times. While I haven't been on stage for many years, I still think that watching good theater is the most entertaining, fun time that you can have. When I see a show or listen to a soundtrack, something happens inside me that is hard to describe. It gives me great joy!
That's all for now...BTW..What is your favorite show experience..Please put it in the comments.Thanks
Be Musical, Be Brave and Be Superb.
R
R
Friday, February 19, 2010
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Starting Over
It was two years ago today that my life started over again. It was the day that I died three times in the hospital. Today I am thinking of all the things I never would have gotten to do if the talented and skilled Doctors had not brought me back.
I would not be writing this blog, I would not have seen my wonderful nephews graduate high school and go off to college. I would not have seen my younger nephew star in "Suessical the Musical". I would not have connected with so many people on Facebook. I would have missed the births of the children of many friends and family. I would have never been able to experience wonderful shows like "Wicked" and see "Rent" for the 3rd time and with my best friend Kathy for the 1st time. I would have missed the love and laugter that I get daily from Papa. I would have not seen the first African American man elected to the Presidency. So much I would have missed.
It was a rebirth in so many ways...While in the hospital for 40 Days (biblical huh..)I lost over 70 pounds (not a diet I recommend for everyone). Before I went into the hospital, I was an insulin dependent diabetic, When I left...I was off of Insulin. By the time I left the hospital, the heal ulcer that I entered the hospital for was nearly all healed and the surgery had been a full success. While my rehab had been difficult. I came out of the hospital healthier than I had been in a whole.
Many people have asked me if I saw the light or anything when I died, Unfortunately I don't remember anything like that. After I woke up from the induced coma, I do remember closing my eyes and seeing many twinkling lights and purple unicorns, but I was on real good drugs too. Leave it to a gay man to see purple unicorns..lol. It is a very strange feeling to lose a whole week or so of your life. People who were in the ICU would come in to tell me that my survival was a miracle they rarely saw people in my condition actually survive. Hearing all the stories and reading my Dad's email to my family really blow my mind, it feels like they are talking about someone else. The whole experience is hard to get my head around.
It became clear to me that this all happened for a reason and I am still here because I still have something to do with my life. I'm still not clear on what that is but I look forward to seeing where my life takes me. Interestingly..I received a call from my old College the other night . I spoke with a lovely Bahamian student..She was looking to update records and of course get a donation. While I couldn't donate, I did tell her that I regretted never finishing my Bachelors Degree.
She passed that info on to the Dean and I received a nice email from him this morning. We are scheduled to speak on the phone. Who knows, maybe there is a way to finish the degree online. Maybe its meant to be..
So on this anniversary of one of the worst days of my life. I cherish ever day, I treasure my family and friends and invite tomorrow to be an adventure. I thank everone who rides this rollercoaster with me. It's good to be alive!
Be Here, Be Now, Be Superb
R
I would not be writing this blog, I would not have seen my wonderful nephews graduate high school and go off to college. I would not have seen my younger nephew star in "Suessical the Musical". I would not have connected with so many people on Facebook. I would have missed the births of the children of many friends and family. I would have never been able to experience wonderful shows like "Wicked" and see "Rent" for the 3rd time and with my best friend Kathy for the 1st time. I would have missed the love and laugter that I get daily from Papa. I would have not seen the first African American man elected to the Presidency. So much I would have missed.
It was a rebirth in so many ways...While in the hospital for 40 Days (biblical huh..)I lost over 70 pounds (not a diet I recommend for everyone). Before I went into the hospital, I was an insulin dependent diabetic, When I left...I was off of Insulin. By the time I left the hospital, the heal ulcer that I entered the hospital for was nearly all healed and the surgery had been a full success. While my rehab had been difficult. I came out of the hospital healthier than I had been in a whole.
Many people have asked me if I saw the light or anything when I died, Unfortunately I don't remember anything like that. After I woke up from the induced coma, I do remember closing my eyes and seeing many twinkling lights and purple unicorns, but I was on real good drugs too. Leave it to a gay man to see purple unicorns..lol. It is a very strange feeling to lose a whole week or so of your life. People who were in the ICU would come in to tell me that my survival was a miracle they rarely saw people in my condition actually survive. Hearing all the stories and reading my Dad's email to my family really blow my mind, it feels like they are talking about someone else. The whole experience is hard to get my head around.
It became clear to me that this all happened for a reason and I am still here because I still have something to do with my life. I'm still not clear on what that is but I look forward to seeing where my life takes me. Interestingly..I received a call from my old College the other night . I spoke with a lovely Bahamian student..She was looking to update records and of course get a donation. While I couldn't donate, I did tell her that I regretted never finishing my Bachelors Degree.
She passed that info on to the Dean and I received a nice email from him this morning. We are scheduled to speak on the phone. Who knows, maybe there is a way to finish the degree online. Maybe its meant to be..
So on this anniversary of one of the worst days of my life. I cherish ever day, I treasure my family and friends and invite tomorrow to be an adventure. I thank everone who rides this rollercoaster with me. It's good to be alive!
Be Here, Be Now, Be Superb
R
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