Hospitals, pain meds, cheeseburgers and movies

[jak466]

So I have been doing my job now for 10 yrs. I’ve had a few bumps and bruises along the way. Been in some basement fires so hot the plastic on my helmet started to melt and it felt like my face was on fire through the mask. But I have never had to go to the hospital for an injury.

I’d like to say I hurt myself in some heroic way, but I didn’t. Nope. We had a call to a MVA, (motor vehicle accident) with a very large patient. We patched him up sitting in his car and then put him on a backboard to move him to a gurney. The medics on scene, being worthless, both let go of their sides of the backboard, which left me holding an end by myself. Not uncommon, but just not expected at the time. Right away I could feel my back strain. We got him placed on the cot and down to the hospital (in our bls rig). I could feel my back tightening and sharp pains if I moved quickly or breathed deep or stepped funny.

I will pick this up a bit- By the time we got back to the fire station, I couldn’t get out of the ambulance without help. So I got to be the patient and my crew back boarded me and took me to the hospital. Not fun!

Luckily, I only strained my back. They put me on some pain meds and I was flying HIGH HIGH. I even got to spend the night on someone else’s tab. 3 cheeseburgers please and an extra side of vicodin.

So now we come to the heart of this story. I got to watch a movie while I was there. Being the hopeless romantic I am and having sustained a couple relationship losses, I was taken by a part in this movie where Robin Williams explains what it is like to loose the person you love. Maybe I just liked the way he delivered it or maybe it was the pain meds…or the cheeseburgers:

[i]So if I asked you about art you could give me the skinny on every art book ever written... Michelangelo? You know a lot about him I bet. Life's work, criticisms, political aspirations. But you couldn't tell me what it smells like in the Sistine Chapel. You've never stood there and looked up at that beautiful ceiling.

And if I asked you about women I'm sure you could give me a syllabus of your personal favorites, and maybe you've been laid a few times too. But you couldn't tell me how it feels to wake up next to a woman and be truly happy.

If I asked you about war you could refer me to a bevy of fictional and non-fictional material, but you've never been in one. You've never held your best friend's head in your lap and watched him draw his last breath, looking to you for help.

And if I asked you about love I'd get a sonnet, but you've never looked at a woman and been truly vulnerable. Known that someone could kill you with a look. That someone could rescue you from grief. That God had put an angel on Earth just for you. To have the love be there for her forever. Through anything, through cancer. You wouldn't know about sleeping sitting up in a hospital room for two months holding her hand and not leaving because the doctors could see in your eyes that the term "visiting hours" didn't apply to you. And you wouldn't know about real loss, because that only occurs when you lose something you love more than yourself, and you've never dared to love anything that much.[/i]

I’ve had that kind of love. It is the greatest feeling in the world to know you can feel that way about someone. Probably the most painful too.

Well I have a party to rest up for. Won't take to many budweisers to get me going.

[Reincarnated]

I thought I had someone who loved me like that. In fact, I think he did. I am still not sure what happened. I didn't think love like that could end.

And then it did.

I hope your back is better; remember not to mix pain killers and booze!

[jak466]

Back is better as long as I limmit my movements...and keep up on meds.

My XW called. Said she heard about the party through some mutual friends. Wanted to know if it was alright if she stopped by to see the house too. Said she had something for me. It will be the second time I've seen her in 3 yrs.

Party starts in and hour. Sounds like there could be a band. I have to shower and start the charcoal.

Talk later

Thanks Donna

[Reincarnated]

Good luck, Jak.

[Toomanywords]

OK, first I have to say sorry. When I read the first post of this I honestly made the incorrect assumption that it was written by a woman.

Secondly - wow. I'm big about quotes. I happen to absolutely love movie quotes, especially this one.
I know the love that the character speaks of and I'm terrified that I'll never feel it again. I was so absolutely, whole-heartedly certain that my XH was THE ONE, the soul mate, the forever - even if I had those absolute feelings again, how could I trust them.
Anyway.


Thanks for sharing.

[lodo]

Hey Jak,

Sorry you have to stay high on meds. Party sounds like fun.

So I used to be VFD in the southwest. Covered an area of 600 sq. miles, so there was usually nothing left by the time we got there, unless it was a rollover.

Have you ever read "Population: 485" by Michael Perry? Might be more meaningful to us small town folk, but I was just curious.

take care of yourself, lodo

[jak466]

Hey toomanywords...you callin me a pu$$?
I just thought for Hollywood, it was a good explination. Not phoney.

Lodo,
By VFD do you mean Volunteer? I started my career as a Volunteer. Very busy department and we ran both Ambulance (als-bls) and Fire Rescue. We did on average 2100 calls.

I have not read that book but I will look for it at my local Library this week.

Party was great. Everyone that helped me remodel my house showed up. My xw showed up right behind our mutual friends. SHE BROUGHT MY DOGS. I haven't seen them in three years. It was great. She pulled up and as soon as the dogs spotted me they went NUTS. Even my lazy-ass red bone hound dog was trying to bust through the window of the truck. They came rushing up to me just all excited. It made the ex start to cry a little.

I haven't played my guitar in in in a long time but I sat in with the band for five or six songs. I was a little rusty at firs But the Vicodin and Buds had me thinking by the fourth song that I was doin just fine. Its not a teenagers throwing their panties at the stage "band" but they have a good sound for what they play.

Their were some friends of friends that came too. A lot more people than I thought would show.

My friends did all the work. They let me relax my back as much as possible. Feeling much better. I think it was the Buds.

I'd write more but I am wiped out.

[jak466]

Oh Yea,

SomeoneI know showed up with a great t-shirt. It said:

My Husband had an affair and all I got was this lousy t-shirt

[lodo]

Oh Yea,

SomeoneI know showed up with a great t-shirt. It said:

My Husband had an affair and all I got was this lousy t-shirt

LOL - I love it!

Hey jak, yep - I was volunteer. We did both ambulance and fire as well. Mainly went out on grass fires and roll-overs. It was open range, so there were some pretty nasty car vs. cow accidents.

When I started the only vehicle we had was an old Korean War troop carrier that had been converted to a tender. We worked our butts off, though, writing grants to get in equipment and training.

Sounds like you're doing well - glad your party was fun.

lodo

[jak466]

Thanks lodo,

Hey those brush fires can get out of hand. Can be as much work as any house fire too. How long did you serve?

Ex wife didn't think it was so funny. Change husband to wife and I could have been wearing the shirt. Now that would be funny.

She stayed about an hour. The dogs stuck to me like glue. She was very cordial(sp) even gave me a pizza oven as a house warming gift. We talked a bit but nothing serious. Work, family, crap like that.