By Eric Wolf Schoen
Upstate New York. Visiting friends. Monday morning. Wake up coughing and have a hard time putting food down. Feel like crap. Better go to the hospital. Close by.
It’s early so the EMERGENGY ROOM is not packed.thank god. A nurse tells me it’s always packed the days after Labor Day with people recovering from their summer vices. This goes on til Halloween when flu starts hitting than of course the Thanksgiving./Christmas holiday season where families get together, 12 year olds play catch with grandpa and the good ol’ fellow realizes he ain’t 12 anymore.
The EMERGENCY ROOM is always a fun place. Boy about 12 comes in with his real live Dog. Says it will calm his older relative down. . Staff tell the boy he can’t stay in the Hospital with dog. Boy said his relative needs the dog. This was Not a service animal.
What could a relative be thinking ?That he is entitled to bring the dog with him into hospital? Speaking to adults in a nasty rude way. The kid needed a good slap in this mouth or on his ass with his behavior. This game went on an hour before the dog and 12 year and older relative finally left.
In the ER a man is screaming. He came there because he was told he could Be treated and get medicine. The ER IS not the place to get medicine. Another guy was upset about how long it was taking in the ER. Call ahead, they will give you a time estimate..
A nurse comes to my bedside, is ready to inject me and thankfully realized the medicine she had was not for me. Tons of tests in Xray rooms frightfully cold. Over 48 hours 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! Blood pressure high. Lungs filed. I am a sick puppy with pneumonia! I was so confused I thought Monday was Tuesday. My clear crystal glass case looks green to me. I told the nurse the phone was not mine.
Which brings us up to Press Times. I have been evaluated by speech, swallow therapy ,physical therapy, every blanking therapy. Waiting to see what’s next. Antibiotics and other meds have brought my fever down and my blood pressure to normal.
But you know? I am starting to wonder about this whole turn 65 Medicare thing. Are you supposed to get sicker when you go on Medicare. I am sure I’ll be fine, but I am not going to stop praying!
Briefs:
Our local Elections have been overshadowed by the Mayoral Elections in New York City. However, there u is a full slate of local officials on the ballot this year. Don’t overlook the fine candidates running for office and candidates including judges, let the people know about you and who you are! Absentee ballots are in the mail.
In last week’s paper I forgot to give a thank to Editor Dan Murphy for the wonderful obituary he did for my long time friend Bob Stauf. Bob was one of those colorful people that bring life to our city and county. I use to call him Mr.Cause of the Month Club head because you never knew what cause he would be fighting for on any given day.
A big supporter of Irish causes, Bob and I met when he was in Getty Square collecting signatures for higher taxes (the temporary Income Tax Surcharge) during one of fiscal crisis we faced in the 1970’s. Sign for higher taxes? We have many folks who come to Yonkers to pitch the next Yankee Stadium or Mall of the Americas, here one day and gone the next. I know Bob is advocating for some cause in heaven. He will be missed.
On the Sale front, stores like Target and Amazon and other retailers are having sales 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!
Reach Eric Schoen at ewschoen@icloud.com.
