I was working on My ever in need of repair Bluesmobile...when a starter motor I was changing dropped on my finger, cutting it clear through to the bone (Owwww!}. In retrospect it could have been much worse, for at least it was my right hand and not my left, and at least it wasnt the index finger, but the middle finger one usually flies when a certain bird is to be released *grin*. Well I went to see this Doctor, and friends I will reccomend this fella to anyone in the Detroit Metro area..Dr Pirret of the hand sugery clinic in Warren. Well......he took a look...
He told me, Carl...I can reattach the tendon you have severed, and you'll play better than the last time I heard you when you sucked major! (Just kiddin hehe). So I agreed and went under the knife for the first time. *shudder* So after the surgery, I attended the Motor Town Music Festival, workin a booth with the Detroit Blues Society...I want to take a moment here to thank everyone there, for making Me feel missed, the support was overwhelming, and so appreciated. Well....unfortunatley this was when I made My second mistake...for on the way to the festival, I cought the contraption they had my finger in on the shifter of the Bluesmobile (The traitor!!) And...rebroke the tendon again *groan*. So...back to the sawbones....I will never forget the day when I re-entered, and told him I had broken the tendon again....the look of disgust on his face was evident. Kinda like a guitar player who busts four strings in one song. and He took another look see....
He said "Carl. You now have two choices...wait six months and I can try again to re-attach it, or I can fuse the bones together on the end of your finger, and you will have nothing but solid bone...AND you'll still play better than the last time I saw you when you sucked major!!(still kiddin heh heh). So...I went under the knife for the second time *shudder*shudder*...And they removed the knuckle, stuck three pins in for support...and fused the bones together. And you'd think I'd live happily ever after right? Well friends....that was when I made my third mistake....Doh!
He told me "Carl, your face isnt badly burned really...you were lucky and this will heal...and your looks will be fine, which is better than the last time I saw you, you were ugly!(just kiddin). So...I went home, and after a zillion ice packs and cold compresses...and darvon...Lord love the fellas who made darvon, shaved My mustache off a few days later when my upper lip wouldnt go with it, and felt naked to the world, but relieved to be alive, and healing. That unfortunatley was....yes....my fourth mistake. (Wondering when it will end? At this point so was I! Hehehe)
I awoke about a week later, with horrible pains in my back...terrible pains that unfortunatley I have had before....kidney stone attack *groan*. So...back to the emergency room and good ol Doc Stevens, who at this point was getting to know me pretty well....in fact I believe he was seeing me more than his girlfriend at this point. *grin* And after a highball of darvon and morphene....Thank the Lord for the people who make morphene...I was able to go home, and told to see another Doc, Dr Stuppler who would advise me a course of action. I went of course, and He says "Carl you have two very large kidney stones that aint gonna pass on their own...I will have to use Lithrotripsy to break them up, and you can pee dust for a few weeks after the procedure, which is ok, cause you were way to full of piss and vinegar when I last saw you onstage!!" (just kidding) And so...I was put under for the third time...*three shudders*...And the Doc took another look...
Well, now after two of those procedures, the kidney stones are healed, it is now January 2000, where I started in July of 99, the friends that dont think I have disowned them are still supportive and I am back working and things are going good right??? Well folks...that was when I made My fifth mistake. *MAJOR GROAN* My finger starts swelling...and swelling....and I go back to Dr Pirret...who naturally says "Carl that finger is infected bad, and we are gonna have to cut it open, but dont worry you'll be fine and still play better than the last time I saw you when you really sucked major!!(At this point, I dont know if I am kidding anymore) And....I went under the knife for the third time.. *no shudder, by this time I know everyone in the whole hospital by their first name, their kids' names, and I am probably putting half of them through major colleges in locales around the entire USA*...*grin*
Now I am healing again, almost well in fact I am happy to say, even though my friends have noticed a crazed look in my eyes of late. I am so anxious to be back onstage again, and doing the things that I love to do...And I shall be very very shortly...in the meantime, below is a little picture of what my friends tell Me I look like, and to all of you out there, and you know who ya are more than I do....I have one word to say to all of you....
