Monday Mornings Always Get Me Down
Upstate New York. Visiting friends. Monday morning. I wake up coughing and can’t keep food down. Feel like crap. Better go to the hospital—luckily, it’s close by.
It’s early, so the emergency room isn’t packed—thank God. A nurse tells me it’s always crowded the days after Labor Day with people recovering from their summer vices. This goes on until Halloween when the flu starts hitting, and then of course the Thanksgiving/Christmas season rolls in—when families get together, 12-year-olds play catch with Grandpa, and the good old fellow realizes he isn’t 12 anymore.
The emergency room is always an interesting place. A boy, about 12, comes in with his real live dog. He says it will help calm his older relative down. The staff tell him he can’t stay in the hospital with the dog. The boy insists—his relative needs the dog. But this wasn’t a service animal.
What could that relative be thinking? That he’s entitled to bring a dog into a hospital? The boy spoke to adults in such a nasty, rude way. Honestly, the kid needed a good talking-to—or maybe a firm hand—for that behavior. This went on for an hour before the dog, the boy, and the relative finally left.
In the ER, a man is screaming. He came because he was told he could be treated and get medicine. The ER is not the place to get prescriptions filled. Another man was upset about how long it was taking. Tip: call ahead—they’ll give you a time estimate.
A nurse comes to my bedside, ready to inject me, but thankfully realizes just in time that the medication isn’t for me. Then come tons of tests in X-ray rooms that are frightfully cold. Over 48 hours later, I’m still waiting for the results of cultures. Was it like this years ago?
Bottom line before I go to my room: fever rises to 103.1°F. Blood pressure high. Lungs filled. I’m a sick puppy—with pneumonia! I was so confused I thought Monday was Tuesday. My clear crystal glasses looked green to me. I even told the nurse the phone wasn’t mine.
Which brings us up to press time. I’ve been evaluated by speech therapy, swallow therapy, physical therapy—every blanking therapy. Waiting to see what’s next. Antibiotics and other meds have brought my fever down and blood pressure back to normal.
But you know? I’m starting to wonder about this whole “turning 65 and going on Medicare” thing. Are you supposed to get sicker once you’re on it? I’m sure I’ll be fine—but I’m not going to stop praying!
Briefs
Local Elections:
Our local elections have been overshadowed by the New York City mayoral race. However, there’s a full slate of local officials on the ballot this year. Don’t overlook the fine candidates running for office—including judges. Candidates: let people know who you are! Absentee ballots are in the mail.
A Note of Thanks:
In last week’s paper, I forgot to thank Editor **Dan Murphy** for the wonderful obituary he wrote for my longtime friend **Bob Stauf**. Bob was one of those colorful people who brought life to our city and county. I used to call him “Mr. Cause of the Month Club” because you never knew what he’d be fighting for on any given day.
A big supporter of Irish causes, Bob and I first met when he was in Getty Square collecting signatures for higher taxes (the temporary income tax surcharge) during one of the fiscal crises we faced in the 1970s. Signing for higher taxes? We’ve had many folks come to Yonkers pitching the next Yankee Stadium or “Mall of the Americas”—here one day and gone the next. But Bob was different. I know he’s advocating for some cause in heaven. He will be missed.
Sales and Seasons:
On the sales front—stores like Target, Amazon, and other retailers are having great deals, taking advantage of the 80-degree heat in October. Check them out—and have a fresh apple cider donut for me, or a yummy DeLite Bakery jelly donut!
