This may take a little while, but I am going to let everyone know what happened ---
If you would like to call me --- use my land line phone number --- 516 - 485 - 193five --- (moderators --- please allow my phone number to be revealed, for this situation,..,)
I will try to call you back with my cell from the hospital --- but I can't have that ringing when the nurses are here, when I am in therapy, etc., etc... I am sure you understand....
So, I was at the Macungie, Pa. Wheels of Time car show -- and on Saturday night, August 27th, and the Hall of Fame Cover Band "Flamin' Dick and the Hot Rods" played their 1950s & 1960s Rock & Roll --- and I danced the night away
with Diane, Tracy, Laura and others --- and when an Old Ugly Fart like me gets to dance with beautiful ladies , I
DON'T say " No " .....
Monday, August 29th was the last night of the summer bowling league I run --- and I bowled all 48 games --- 12 weeks times 4 games per night --- with all 16 pound balls....
The next few days , I was getting ready for the upcoming
Englishtown, New Jersey, Fall Carlisle, Pa., and HERSHEY, Pa. Car Shows.....
I reserved a U Haul, as always, I was putting all the Special Orders, and extra stock I bring for these shows, into the hallway to prepare to load the U Haul.....
I was still answering all phones and e mails, and getting out some last minute orders, before I would not be available to do so while I was on the road for those next 2 2/3rd weeks......
**** So , I don't want to hear any lies about " pre-existing"
conditions....... ****
Now, that week was the last big heat wave of the season --- 92 to 95 degrees all week, and the thermostat revealed it was 87 degrees inside --- so that night, it was going down to 62 degrees, so I left the front door open, to cool the place off.....
At 6:00 A.M. that morning, these cops came to do a
"wellness check" on someone named ' Bruce '
Of course, there is N O Bruce there ---- and I was in bed, naked, sleeping in my bed.....
When they awoke me, I said , " Whoa, what the hell are you doing ????? "
" Let's go, you're coming with us..... "
I replied, " For what ???? Let me get my pants, let me get my keys, let me get my glasses..... "
" Nope, " they responded, " You're coming with us....."
They wrapped me in, what I believe, was a large blanket, and dragged me out across the seven (7) concrete stairs to bring me up to ground level.....
I don't know if they took measures to sedate me, etc., etc.... I remember screaming out twice, " What the **** are you doing ???? What the **** are you doing ???? "
I knew that there were four (4) cops or cop cars --- because I heard the one cop at my head say " We have 4 units here ... And then, he stated " These ******* squatters are a pain in the ***... They are a bigger, ******* problem every day.....We have got to get rid of them"......
Of course, they dragged me through 10 million dollars worth of antique and classic auto parts. --- not whatever possessions a squatter owns !!!!
As Maxwell Marty used to say " Missed by that much. " !!!!
And, they did manage to steal the $ 3000 of state quarters on the night table next to the bed.... Or, help themselves to a nice healthy tip........
Next thing I know, was that I was at N Y U Langone Hospital's I C U (Intensive Care Unit).....
I spent 28 days at Langone Hospital. During that time , I had a plethora of tests, MRIs, X Rays, and on and on....
The injuries were / are :
Pressure Wound in Left foot --- an actual 1 1/2'ish round hole in my left heel..... , scrapes and scratches and nicks on both feet, a damaged left knee [ that required Surgery ] to drain fluids, as they said there were immunities or impurities or something, where they feared internal body poison / sepsis..... Left Hip pain (no visual injuries) , Left Upper Back
Injury --- 10 " x 12 " patch to cover [ required Surgery ] which has caused Nurses to practically faint and hold bedside vigils, when opened up daily to redress it, both elbows scraped and bloodied, and a nasty 1 " round scab covering an injury to my forehead......
And, I was old and ugly before this !!!!
After 28 days at Langone Hospital --- I was discharged to the Sun Harbor Manor Extended Care Health Facility / Nursing Home, where I am now in my 21st day here ---- so this horrible episode in my life has now reached 49 days / seven (7) weeks.....
With spotters, two days ago, I was able to take my first miniature steps inside parallel bars as part of the therapy....
And yesterday, I stood up from the wheelchair into a walker, and with spotters, took a few miniature steps in him....,,
I have to be " hoyered (lifted)" from the bed into the wheelchair --- so this recovery time is going to be extended, long, and difficult.....
I am not going to be Hulk Hogan overnite..... How do I become the buff, toned, youth I was 44 years ago ????
I am doing leg , knee, and arms exercises every day in their gym, and am doing more while I am in bed.... I am doing arm exercises in the middle of the night with my eyes closed, as I am not exactly getting quality sleep and much of it.....
I never had a lawyer in my life.... I have retained the services of a Garden City Lawyer, who has indicated to me that these cases are difficult to win, because of the natural logistics of them ---- no little slip and fall weasel is qualified for a case like this --- but he has won them before.....
The first thing I said to him was " Listen, if WE win 12 billion dollars versus me being able to walk again normally --- I would rather walk again normally "
But, inconvenience...... Am I scared, nervous, and I have shed some tears ??? I am not embarrassed to say ,
" Absolutely. " to all of the above....
I still have to poop in bed, and luckily, my body has been regular enough, where I can still call the nurse and get a bed pan set up, to make their job to clean me less of an issue... I am maintenance required enough........
So, that is where I stand ( ha ha ) at the moment ....
If anyone has any questions or comments, feel free at any time to ask me here, call me, and I promise you, I will answer all, regardless of how difficult it may be....
If you have any thoughts or suggestions --- don't hold back --- I am all ears , and I will entertain all ideas.... You don't have to sugar coat anything.....
Those who know me know I have a Heart of GOLD.... I treat everyone with respect and dignity,.... I have 500,000 guys and a few girls on this planet who love me, because I have served them, automotive speaking, to the highest level obtainable in this universe..... I have been blessed by God with some ubvelievable recall power, and with 51 years of experience, great old catalogs, hundreds of incredible courses, and an unmatchable willingness to help....
I have 500 billion part numbers committed to memory --- and that saves me a lot of tune at the shows, etc., etc.
I am Ivy League educated , I grew up in my grandfather's auto parts store --- where we were especially known for old car parts ..... Keeping beautiful old cars on the road , for me, is the ultimate reward,,,,.
My wife passed 29 years ago, and I am taking the express elevator to Heaven when my time on this planet is complete.... People ask me when I am going to retire --- and I tell them, " The day that I die...." I have been blessed to do what I do --- I have received blessings these last seven weeks from Florida to California and Oregon , and all points in between --- Michigan, Illinois, Ohio, Missouri, Minnesota (of course --- SKOL VIKINGS), Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and more......
I ask that you keep me in your thoughts and prayers --- and remind GOD that my mission to assist everyone on this planet is not complete ( as evidenced by my backlog of phone messages and e mails --- yikes !!! )
Thank you all for making my life great --- I sincerely hope that I have made your life better by knowing me......
Hopefully, we are not done......
With love and respect, Yours, Craig......
