It was Wednesday, November 3, 2010. I had just hobbled down the stairs from my third floor apartment. The Handi-Bus was just pulling in front of the apartment. Fortunately I had left enough time to make it down the stairs. And, for a change, there were no cars blocking the sidewalk that led to…
What is luck? Folks talk about “the luck of the draw”. Or, “I just got lucky”. Or, “you makes your own luck”. The Roman philosopher Seneca said this of Luck, “Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.” I first heard this epigram from a senior systems advisor at my former employer, Imperial Oil Limited….
I am not sure why I have long been, I guess some would say, obsessed with the topic of death. I think it stems from two sources. I used to be a member of, what I now call, the Cult of Jehovah, aka the Jehovah’s Witness religion. JW’s are focused big-time on the End of…
I heard the sounds of machines. Pumping. Breathing. Nearby. And, in the distance. The murmur of voices. Professional voices. Clustered somewhere close. Close enough to hear the occasional word. Phrases. Sentences. I didn’t understand the sentences, the phrases. But I did understand the words. Especially one. My name. Why were they speaking my name? Why…
Every word of this book is true — except for those that aren’t. I knew from the beginning that I had to write the ambulance team as a man and a woman. In twenty eleven I started requesting my patient records. When I reviewed the ambulance records. I found out that the actual ambulance team…
Prologue Death was calling him. He remembers her most recent call. May first-twenty ten. He had just moved into his apartment. Beginning a new life. Alone. Hopeful. Joyous. Then it all turned to shit. Somewhere around noon. The witching hour. His mood dropped. Crashed. Plummeted. Lower than a salamaner’s belly. Lower than a cockroach’s. Lower…
Part 8 “I am in a car. An Oldsmobile. In the front seat. The passanger seat. I glance to my left. I am driving. I am dressed in jeans. Cinched with a blue cloth belt. Red T-shirt. Peeking through the neck of a leather jacket. Black socks. Grey runners. We are driving on Glemore Trail….
“I was back in Unit 58. In Andrea’s office. Facing her chair. Her empty chair. I was filling in a crossword puzzle. A test from Andy. I was stuck on 69 down. ‘Lave’. Six letters. Crud. I hear Andrea saying, “Lyle. You’re early. Your appointment isn’t till three o’clock. You’ll have to go and come…
Since I write non-sequentially and largely by inspiration this Table of Contents will undergo periodic revision, as I am inspired. Contents Copyright Page Prologue PART ONE – RECOVERY BEGINS 2 EMS to the Rescue 3 ICU Is a Four Letter Word 4 The More is NOT the Merrier PART TWO – REHABILITATION BEGINS 5…
I woke. With Siper Webs. Caressing my face. Burning. Itching. Hot. My old friend. Visiting. Last week. Serotonin Syndrome by name. I had first experienced SS when I was given Injectible Naloxone (Narcan). For an Morphine overdose. Then I rocketed from SS to Hypomania to full blown Psychotic Mania. This time SS was milder. Thank…