Almost gone...

[KurtsKustom]

Flu-like symtoms last Friday left me coming home last night after being released from the hospital. Saturday the symtoms worsened until I was driven to bed. The ambulance came Sunday as I tried to hang on and not go to the hospital. Pneumonia and no insulin put me in the ambulance at 900+ blood sugar and they slotted me right into ICU. What a long and torturous ride that was. The hospital released me Tues. evening after I became unruly enough that they felt I was well enough. Had I waited another hour before giving in to going to the hospital, they could not have brought me back, and they say if it happens again, they will not be able to bring me back alive. Just one hour.

[JE3146]

Man.. I've been reading about your stuff lately and all the work you've done on trying to improve the guns I've come to love... and I'm diabetic too.. so I know what you're saying... my highest ever was mid 700's and that was not something I want again... Best of luck recovering fully, and hopefully you wont ever have that again...

[recon]

:eek: Damn man be careful! Life is short! Get better!

[KurtsKustom]

Thank you. I've worked for many in my previous years, many independents. I watched them, the owners, studied them, emmulated them, saying to myself, "someday...I know what it takes." I watched many of them, with a passion for their business, whether it was tractor/crawler parts, their own products (various), whatever made the machines turn, watched them devote their lives to 'the business'. I've buried some. I've watched as they declined, all the time focused on the business. That was before OSHA, the enemy of the small time operator. We always did what we had to do, because it had to be done. Hazmat? F-That. No time for formalities, let's get it done! The man I credit for my choice of vocation, one I admired and worked for as a foreman/lead man, once told me, "One week I worked 147 hours in the machine shop, and when I stopped, it was to go to the hospital. They had to take off the top of this lung (he pointed). It was burnt so bad that they could not tell if it was cancer or TB." I watched Bill as he hit the coffee machine one usual production day. I had just set up a turret lathe and was running production because we were short-handed (like that was unusual!) and he hit the coffee machine 30 times, and was smoking 3 packs/day. This was after he had related the above story to me. He liked me, he taught me, he let me grow. Two men influenced my life, my Father (who always told me I couldn't) and ole Bill (who always told me I could). I honor them both. I'm tearing now, so I'll move on. That's kinda where I find myself in my post-50 life, knowing what real commitment is (that and a 24 year marriage). I'm not done until I say I am done, and Death will come when I'm good & ready. I stared it in the face last Sunday, and I knew. When I told my wife that yes, she could call the ambulance, it was my call. Do you know what that means, really? She would not have had I not answered "yes". THAT's commitment, totally and unselfishly. I ain't none too steady yet, but I'm fixin' to set this sucker off again. Hang in there. I am.

On a cobweb afternoon
In a room full of emptiness
By a freeway I must confess
I was lost in the pages
Of a book full of Death
Reading how we'll die alone
And if we're good we'll lay to rest
Anywhere we want to go

In your house I long to be
Room by room patiently
I'll wait for you there
Like a stone I'll wait for you there
Alone

On my deathbed I will pray
To the gods and angels
Like a pagan to anyone
Who will take me to heaven
To a place I recall
I was there so long ago
The sky was bruised
The wine was bled
And there you led me on

In your house I long to be
Room by room patiently
I'll wait for you there
Like a stone I'll wait for you there
Alone

And on I read
Until the day was gone
And I sat in regret
Of all the things I've done
For all that I've blessed
And all that I've wronged
In dreams until my death
I will wander on

[recon]

What can you say! I'll be 48 this summer and sometimes you feel it! Things don't heal as fast. You get tired a little easier than you use too. Want to take a nap once in a while. I have been fighting Bronchitis now for the last 2 wks plus! Starting to take a toll on me! Sometimes you just got to step back and say wow! Almost 18yrs/wife and 4 kids will do it! ;) Take care Kurt!

[JE3146]

Can't really relate.. I'm only 18 myself.. but glad to hear you're getting better.. keep us updated

[KurtsKustom]

"Almost 18yrs/wife and 4 kids will do it!"

I have 4 wonderful boys, the youngest of which will be 17 next month. 1 more year and I'm free.

[recon]

Me 3 girls and one boy! He is 19 and graduating this year! The other 3 are 10,13,15! Way's to go there! As far as being free look's like 2012 if I 'am lucky! ;)

[RJ Shooter]

900+ Kurt!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :eek:

I know you're dedicated to family and work, BUT TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF TOO!!!!!!!!!!

[KurtsKustom]

This really sucks. I've had a slow recovery but feeling stronger. I still have lung congestion, and the lung infection/pneumonia that they said I had should be treated now with the horse-pill antibiotics I was on. My legs got it the worst. With under 10% body fat, I had nothing for the disease to eat other than muscle/lean tissue. I can't stay on my feet all day like I was, but it'll get better. Thx!

[RJ Shooter]

You're in my prayers Kurt!