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Heading Home the Long Way
June 22nd, 2009Today hasn’t been my best day ever. I’ll save the details of the weekend for another time, this is just a quick note to let you know it’ll be a day or two before I get real post up.
I was stupid this weekend, feeling chest pains and assuming it was a rib out of place or just a sprain. The pain got worse and worse and by the time I was in the lounge this morning getting ready for the home-bound flight I was in tears and couldn’t breath. My wife – wise, gentle, wonderful wife – convinced me to go to the medical clinic in the airport and the doctor there called in the paramedics. We all had a wonderful time and there were gumdrops and flowery tea. But mostly it was questions and an EKG and lots of stethescoping which wasn’t fair because everyone got a turn to play except me, and I had to take my shirt off.
Long story getting longer, they strapped me to the bed on wheels and then dragged my sorry ass through the airport as if to say to the whole world, “See, dude can write a book but won’t go to the hospital with chest pains…” Then they put me into the ambulance but didn’t use the siren and if anyone in the whole wide world ever felt ripped off, it was me then. Anyways. Hospital, blood test, more EKGs, oxygen, flashy but airy gowns, and pee in a bottle please, then 5 hours later they put us in a cab and smiled and if they didn’t say it I’m pretty sure they were thinking “Y’all come back now, y’hear?”
Then we went to the airport where Air Canada screwed us and made us take a ride to New Jersey so we could spend $140 on a cab, $250 on a hotel, AND $200 in change fees just to get flights out in the morning.
Lord have mercy. It has not been a good day. But any day like this that you survive becomes a good story, and things could always be worse. Sharon didn’t think taking pictures with my iPhone in the ambulance was the best idea, but it was only because my G9 was packed.
Thanks for all the care and kindness expressed on Twitter and email. I’ll post in a day or two when things have settled. Right now I need to go to bed.
Be well!
Best wishes. Take it easy and here’s to a quick recovery.
I’m a guy so I can appreciate this story… my wife, she’d be shaking her head because she knows I’d be just as stubborn.
At least you got to hang out at B&H for a day!
Stay healthy and safe travel back to YVR
Glad they let you go home. I hope everything is ok. Take care of yourself.
Take care of yourself bud!
Glad to hear you’re better and headed home. Get better soon and stay well, sir.
Hope you are feeling better soon. Safe travels!
So happy to hear you are okay! At least you didn’t know the paramedics or medical personnel treating you! I took a ride like that once when daughter was 4 yo. My hubby is a physician, so the paramedics and fire dept ALL knew him. Daughter proceeds to ‘chat’ with all the boys during my strapping down and ride to the ER. Tells them all kind of embarassing stories. They called my hubs who told them “if she’s dying, let me know”. They got a good laugh out of that too! Of course, he was waiting for me and I still hear about it after 20 years…
I’m so sorry, David. Particularly about the lack of resounding siren and them not playing fair with the stethoscope. On the bright side, maybe those medics were protecting you from something that they were, or more importantly, weren’t hearing with that thing. I mean, whenever I can’t hear my own heartbeat on a stethoscope, I get distracted. My work starts to suffer. Even my wife notices. Eventually.
But of course there’s always Air Canada to bring you right back to reality. Head in the air, feet on the ground. Shucks, there’s nothing like ‘em!
Consider taking at least a little bit easy over the next while. Mkay? If there’s anything I can do to help…
wow. I hope everything is ok. Then again, all those photos on my wall would sure go up in val… uh, never mind. I hope you’re fine, dude, regardless of the missed windfall it would have given me and my struggling family during these difficult times. You know what you need to do, get right back on that horse, or in your case, bacon. You need lots and lots of yummy bacon!
Mmm! Taste the lardy goodness!
Glad to hear you are on your way back and got checked out. Hope you are feeling better. Marga and I send our best wishes.
I second Brad’s comment above, let us know if we can to anything to help out.
See you soon.
take care of urself…i google that thing u mentioned and u need to be careful and take rest…get well soon
Greetings from Frankfurt.
Man, you sure know how to travel! And after I just spent 3 weeks in South Africa telling everyone about the cool photographer who taught me everything I know.
No Siren? I’m going to be busy issuing all those retractions.
Hang in there my friend.
Life has these little ways of reminding us to slow down. Time to get out and smell the roses again.
You take care of yourself David- we can wait till your feeling much better.
DaveT
Yes, for sure – be well. I know what it’s like to almost not come back from a trip. As pilots are fond of saying, “any landing that you can walk away from….”
Cheers & Peace.
Gary
Stop scaring me! Get better or I am going to have to come over there and ring your neck!
Hi David hope you’re feeling better and that your. My thoughts are with you, speak soon.
Keep safe and healthy David. Hope you can take a few days to rest and praying that the recovery is smooth and complete. There’s still a lot of darkness around and not enough folk kicking back.
Sorry to hear of the strange twists in your journey, glad to hear that you sought medical attention. You were worrying me on Twitter when you chalked up chest pain to your ribs.
Though I have to say, I was stubborn about chest pain when I had it. Finally had my co-workers take me to the ER. Turned out I had pneumonia.
Get well, soon man. We’ll be here for ya.
Hey David, thinking of you and praying things are all okay. I think the threat of Mr Brandon coming on over to wring your neck might do the trick in speeding up your recovery
So glad you are safe and being forced to take care of yourself! rest well and dream of large women!
I had a friend who was fond of saying death is nature’s way of telling you to slow down. But you don’t have to go quite that far to learn the lesson. Rest easy my friend.
David,
You have a strong and beautiful heart. You just need to give it a rest every now and then. Relax and focus on all of the wonderful things you have in your life.
Regards,
Cate
David,
I’m really sorry to hear about your ordeal. At least, it must have been a pretty great trip until that point. Get some rest, and take it easy.
Listen to your wife. Mine has saved my sorry butt so many times. Prayers and rest my friend!
I thought I had missed my only chance to meet you
Take some time to get better. (I know, easier said than done)
Glad to hear you’re feeling better and finally on the way home.
Oh David! What a weekend! I am so sorry! Please feel better soon! And I am sure as many have probably offered, if there is anything I can do, you know where to reach me!
Please rest!
OMG!! Wishing you all the best. Take good care of yourself.
Take care of yourself!
Like a good photograph, this story leaves me with lingering questions -
Is NYC (or the airline) bad for your health?
Should we be superstitious about leaving B&H without buying?
Do New Yorkers really care if you come back? (“y’all come back now y’hear?” is a Texas expression).
If you were still working as a comedian, I’d bet you’d have some great material from all this. Hope you can put it all behind you and rest well.
Glad it wasn’t anything serious. Hope you feel better soon.
David,
I’m really sorry you had such a crappy ending to your NYC trip. I’d say treat it not with anxiety but as a gift; a reminder to slow down and get some rest. Feel better soon! We’re all here cheering for you
At the risk of sound like all the lovely ladies in your family I’ll tell you again – you’ve really been overdoing it lately. Never ignore your body’s warnings as some stories don’t have such happy endings. OK, happy except for Air Canada.
While you’re resting read the wise words in this article http://zenhabits.net/2009/06/the-10-essential-rules-for-slowing-down-and-enjoying-life-more/
Enjoy some well-earned relaxation and take care of yourself.
Glad for the smoke signal, dude.
Praying for a quick recovery…
Take care of yourself, stay well.
Really enjoying the book
Get well soon! Stuff like that can really scare the crap out of anyone.
Wishing you a very speedy recovery…
Sending best wishes your way. Even though you were checked out at the hospital, it would be wise to go to your regular physician for a checkup – that way he knows what is going on with you. Just a thought.
Glad you’re alright. Take care buddy!
[...] Heading Home the Long Way [...]
Geez… I am glad Sharon was there to talk some sense into you! Take better care of yourself and make sure you get checked out more thoroughly when you get back!
Glad to hear you are feeling better!
Eat more bananas!
Seriously. I had a similar thing happen years ago. I had been sick with a stomach thing for a week, started to feel better, went to work (even though I should have been resting), had chest pains, took myself to the hospital, and after a big shot of potassium I felt immediately better. Thankfully it has been over 8 years since and hasn’t happened again. Hope the same for you!
David, you must take the greatest care of yourself or else I’ll be jumping on a flight with MB to come and hold you down whilst he wrings your neck. Go well. Be safe.
I dare ya!