Posted by METALMAN on Saturday, September 14, 2002 at 7:02PM :
In Reply to: Metalman, where are you? posted by Ed Tavernier on Saturday, September 14, 2002 at 10:43AM :
Here I be I havent been feelin to good since around spring time but I still was managin to run my Wrecker + Roll back + ride my old Harley some.I went on my yearly ride thru the mountains to lake george for a big wrecker festival firt weenend of June then south west to the Amsterdam Gloversville area to visit my 25 yr old daughters mother who has been in a assisted livin home for the last 7 yrs ( I have been goin there to visit spring + fall for the last 7 yrs) then the 2nd weekend was me + my beautiful young wifes 12 yr anniversary + we spent 3 days across the border in Montreal.Then 4th of July week I took 5 days for myself _ got on my Electra Glide + took a 420 mi ride to my hometown for the big 4th of July celebration with long time friends.It was very hard to getaway + I had to replace the head gaskets on my E glide 2 days before I left as the rear had started to leak( seems my old 48 Flathead is more dependable then my 76 E glide these days).Got done there for the 4th had a good old time followin day I went off wanderin stopin here + there visitin old friends + seein how much my home town has changed + wound up with more shovelhead trouble + after limpin across the island to a old buddys of mine + workin out under a couple shade trees with some rotten plywood for a floor + a whole lot of work on my top end I was up + runnin.Put another 200 mi on it local + during next day + a half then headed north toward the mountains for the 420 mi ride home which I made sucessfully with no problems + have about a 1000 mi on it since I had it apart down there.Once back I was doin my wrecker calls for AAA + Police but not feelin well.Wasnt gettin on line much, turnin down work, havin more + more pain + bad thoughts in my head,every nite I would get on my old faded red + black 1948 WL Flathead with hand shift + fringed buddy seat + old Buco saddle bags with lots of studs + reflectors ( I call that old bike my lifes companion) + I consider it along with my old 37 Ford restored stock car I last went round d round with at a local track back in the late 70s.I keep them both in there own little tin garage at far corner of my property away from everything elso so if the whole place burns down or something happens hopefully they will be ok. So every nite i would get on my old harley + ride 26 mi out of the mountains to our beautiful little friendly almost crime free lake city of Plattsburg + got to a open air bar on the lakes edge + watch the boats + have a few drinks + see the sights then ride around downtown stop at my favorite pizza place for some pizza + a beer hang out then ride back home in the mts late nite sometimes stoppin a few times because of pains everywhere.In late july I arranged to have some medical tests with a trusted doctor who I met when I first came to the mts 16 yrs ago + who took a likin to me + marveled over the major repairs I have had + the physical condition I manage to keep myself in thru fitness + lifestyle change to inprove my health that had been done to me because of my type of lifestyle over the years of motorcycles race cars wild women street + bar room fightin smokin drinkin lyin sinnin eatin allthe wrong stuff.So I had a whole lot of blood work done + a lot of tests + a thalliam stress test where you lie strapped to a table with radio active dye + it is fed into monitors for 45 min then still hooked up onto a tresd mill 15% grade where I did my best for 15 minutes while i was monitored then back on the table restin for another 45 min.We later discussed the results + there were no blockages +I seem to be as clean as when I took the Helicopter ride 3 + a half yrs ago for pains in my shoulder.So this is in my head he gave me a supply of samples of a new drug Vixxxxax + a script for it + I tried it + almost within a few days itI felt a difference but still didnt feel right so 2 weeks later weekend of Aug 25 there is a yearly clam bake at the local legion that I always attend the followin week end also has a big time at my buddys bar room down the road + the finalle is the town field ay + parade where I always have my fleet of old + new iron in the parade.Well I make the legion clam bake ride my old Harley there ate a few dozen clams, half dozen cups of the best Manhatten style clam chowder during the afternoon washed down with 4 or 5 Rum + Cokes with lemon + lime listened to some good local Fiddle + mouth harp music even had a steak toward evenin .Left aroud 7 on my old harley put on a little show for my old buddies thru some rocks + gravel as I wheeeld out of there to home.Went to bed at 9 was up at 430 am to go out in shop + finish a $$$$$ repair job in my shop as it was promised for Tues.Came in about 8am had a little breakfast with my beautiful young wife + around 9 am tok a call with my Roll back for a new GMC extended cab with 800 mi on it to the local dealer in the city 26 mi away.Felt ok even with all I ate + drank yesterday at the clam bake.did the call stopped in town at two differnt shops I tow for + hang out with had a little lunch + did another local call then headed up to my place with anticipation of ridin my old harley 4 mis to the Mon nite fire meetin + get together . Around 6 I started to feel bad + just laid in my recliner lookin at TV at 8 my stomack was like the TV commercial glowin on fire around 10 I had the shakes + fevers + tried all my home remedys of which none worked around 2 am we called for the fire dept rescue squad + 4 of my fellow voulnteers + friends responded to includin the chief who is a advanced emt .They load me up for the ride 26 mi east to the city to the local Hospital listenin to me howl in pain felt like I ate ground up glass, ER doctor admitts me they shoot me up to dull the pain then the tests start over the next 3 days nothin serious is found with tests at both ends after drinkin stuff that smells like battery acid ulta sounds, cat scans ,racks of blood + lab work,at least 5 doctors includin the one I have trusted for 16 yrs I am breathin worse feelin worse gettin fevers then another test on the 6th day a hida scan shows my Gall bladder is inflamed pussed up + sendin poisen thru out me probley for quite a while.So surgery to take it out + not the easy way + am cut from my belly button to the middle of my side + its out next day I am weak but feelin better tubes everywhere start to come out + I am allowed out of bed + I start walkin the floor in my wellingtons Outback brim hat + vest.every day I get stronger + feelin better back pain is gone right shouder + arm pain gone eatin again + keepin it down ,plumbin starts workin 3 days after surgery feelin better all the time.Lettin me go outside for walks on hosp grounds gettin lots of visitors + enjoyin the company.My 25 yr old daughter who was only married 3 weeks ago just before her seviceman husband was shipped to Afganastan flew to Plattsburg from langly air force base in Va where she is livin to be with me.Durin this whole ordeal my beautiful young wife never left my side.On the afternoon of the 16th day they released me it was dark cold + rainy ,my wife brought my oilskin outback jacket + with my well worn weelintons + my oilskin hat the Metalman was goin home> I wanted her to bring my Dodge Power Ram Wrecker but she came in her Suburu Outback + off we went for the 30 mi ride home as we left the little city + headed west I saw the change in season the tree colors + the nettles comin off the thick pines.The smell of fresh rain + Mountain air was like bein in heaven after 16 days in the Hospital.As we climbed higher + higher thru the 4 Mt towns to our home I felt even better approchin our place the landmark 1935 Ford truck + my AAA + state signs I have down at the edge of the hiway never looked so good.Riding up our drive slowly I looked at my place that I never thought I was gonna see again + spent the first nite home in my own bed in 16 days .The next day thurs I went out in my office then opened my garage door with a stick then a 4x4 then a broom till the spring action overcome resistance + up it went.I got into my Dodge dsl + fired it up the engine caught + the familer rattle that I have listened to in both my 91 + now this 01 smoothed out I backed it out in the bright mornin sun + let it run a bit.Later in the day I walked out to my other shop where my Hot rod Jeep + spare Wrecker sit I fired up the 91 + listened to its Dsl rattle away then later out to my open shed where my Roll back sits ,that was the last truck I drove on that mon afore the late nite rescue squad ride + started my trusty old Roll back + retrived my cell phone + fire dept pager to bring in + charge up.I still havent fired up or got into my Hot rod jeep yet I also looked at my pair of Harleys its gonna be awhile afore I am kickin them over.Yesterday Fri afternoon my wife + I went to town to my surgeon to have the staples + the drain tube + collection bag removed.Then stopped at a couple garages that I tow + hang out at then a little dinner at a favorite restarant then to Fri nite cruise nite where a lot of guys get together every fri nite durin the summer in a shoppin center parkin lot + gather with old cars trucks + motorcycles visied for a bit them home today sat we spent a quiet day to home with just a few visits from friends.Lookin to get myself together + hopefully will be able to drive in a week or so but I know its gonna be awhile afore I am workin in my shop or on the side of the road in my wrecker or rollback.I know this story is long but thats where I been in my life these days Thanks for askin about me
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