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BizB
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As I remember it
2006-03-10 |
I am the youngest of three boys. The next oldest is four years my senior and the oldest, one year older than he. Cliff, my oldest brother, (I never did understand why I should use commas in that instance, but if I wrote "My oldest brother Cliff..." doesn't require commas) was a complete and total introvert. For hours, he could sit on the stairs playing with is Middle Earth Aeronautics Department (MEAD) rocket ship. Not the original MEAD rocket. Nope, this was version "No. 2" in the great line of Middle Earth ships. When he wasn't playing with his rocket ships cleverly disguised as pencils, he was watching Star Trek or drawing space-ships of all sorts. Steve, the middle boy was the typical middle child. Problem child. Trouble maker. In short, my idol. I would have done anything to win his approval. But, that's not what this is about. Well, not entirely. You see, as the youngest of the three, my job was to get under the skin of the other two. And, I was good at it. I was so good at teasing them that my mom's nickname for me was "Tator" as in agitator. "Tator" combined with "I'll do anything to impress Steve" equals trouble.
When I was about 10 years old, Steve and I deciced (read Steve convinced me) that it would be funny to give Cliff a hard time by disconnecting the cable TV connector where it went into the house. Cable TV was pretty new to us and it wasn't the most reliable thing in the world. Making Cliff believe that the cable had gone out while he was watching Star Trek would be funny. Once. Maybe twice. We snuck over to the side of the house where the cable entered the house. Steve produced a pair of pliers and I watched through the window to be sure that Cliff wasn't on to us. When the disconnection process was complete, we heard, "Awww SHIT!" and then Cliff stomped up the stairs. Just as he reached the top of the stairs, Steve reconnected the cable. Cliff's world was back in order for the moment and he returned to the couch to watch his show.
We giggled.
Then, we did it again.
Again, when Cliff got to the top of the stairs, we re-connected the cable and giggled. This time, I'm sure he heard us but he didn't come outside.
The third time, Cliff had us figured out and he ran up the stairs and bolted out the side door which opened just 3 feet from where we stood, pliers in hand guilty as sin. Steve dropped the pliers and we bolted down the side of the house running at top speed. Cliff, content to have the pliers now, didn't give chase. He reconnected the cable and went back to the couch. Steve and I sat across the street hiding behind a car or in someone's garage... somewhere "safe" from the wrath of Cliff.
That was too damn funny! What a great gag! Did you see the look on his face? He must have turned 100 shades of pissed-off! Let's do it again! Okay!
Slowly, we sneak up along the side of the house making sure not to giggle out loud. Stepping tall past the basement window so he doesn't see us coming, we make it to cable connection for what could be the best laugh ever. Steve reaches to his back pocket for the pliers only to discover that he didn't have them this time. Hopeful that Cliff didn't tighten the connection with the pliers before he went back inside, Steve grabbed the connection and gave it a twist while I searched through the window for any sign that Cliff is around. No sign of him...
OH SHIT! RRRRUUUUNNNNN!!!! Steve called out as Cliff lept from the side door of the house and began chasing us down the sidewalk that bordered the north side of the house. Steve was ahead of me and Cliff was right behind me - as far as I knew. I didn't actually look back to see. I ran for my life for the 25 feet to the end of the chain-link fence that ran between my house and the neighbor's driveway. When I got to the end of the fence, I grabbed the conical end-cap and spun around the end of the fence. I took about 2 more steps before I realized that Cliff never really gave chase. Had he left the house to kick our asses, I would have seen him when I rounded the fence. Whew. Just about that time, I realized that my right hand, the one that I had grabbed the fence post with, had a wet and cold feeling. That shouldn't be the case... it's a sunny beautiful mid-summer day.
I looked down to see a large gash had been torn across my right wrist. The blood hadn't yet filled the void. I could see the tendons, the veins and muscles... I think. The cut was at least 2 inches long and it opened like a mouth in the middle of my wrist. I could see an artery pulsing and then, as if instantly, the hole filled with blood.
Steve had stepped from his hiding place and was now approaching me. I held out my arm like it was covered with hissing cockroaches and I didn't understand why. He didn't say a word. He grabbed my wrist with his hand putting his palm directly over the cut and applied pressure as he spun me around and led me back toward the house.
I must have screamed like a little girl when I saw the cut because Cliff had come out of the house and was now coming toward us. He cocked a fist and aimed it at Steve's head. "What did you do to him?" Cliff asked as he swung a blow that glanced off of Steve's shoulder as he ducked and twisted. He never let go of my wrist as he backed away from Cliff as they both did their personal best to protect their littlest brother from completely different dangers. As we backed away, Steve explained that he didn't do it, but that I had a really bad cut and that Cliff should take a look. When Steve lifted his palm to show Cliff, I turned my head so I wouldn't see it again. I don't know what Cliff saw, but it was enough to send him running to the kitchen for a towel.
When he returned, he applied pressure using the kitchen towel and instructed Steve to go to the neighbor's house to arrange for a ride to the ER.
By the time they were ready to stitch me up, my mom had come over from her office which was right next to the hospital. Mom held my left hand and talked with the ER dr. while he worked on my right wrist. He warned me that I'd feel a pinch and perhaps a stinging. I felt none of that. I closed my eyes for a minute and then looked over at my mom who was calm, cool, and collected. I only asked that the dr. warn me before he starts sewing it up. He chuckled and said, "I'm already done. I just need to put some dressing on it."
This was the first of my 2 suicidesque scars on my right wrist despite the fact that I've never even contemplated suicide never mind attempting it.
edit: There was a piece of metal sticking up from the fence post that gouged my wrist as I spun around the end of the fence. How I managed to leave that out of the story is further evidence that I'm not cut out to write. |
 BizB Sat Mar 18 09:46:36 PM
Oh. I get it.
Pepe is a joke from an internet forum that I visit. I suppose that's why I didn't get the si sinor thing, too. I've never associated Pepe with Spanish.
I am in Baltimore this weekend. We went to Harper's Ferry (the apostrophe in "Herper's Ferry" is what caused the error you may have seen earlier) and did some historical sight seeing. Then, we climbed a mountain to find a geocache. I'll post pics from the mountain tomorrow as an update. I can't believe how beautiful the entire east coast is. I could live here... easy.
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 Betty Boop Sat Mar 18 01:19:22 PM
Big Bro - Biz wrote on Thursday, March 16 "for the love of Pepe" in his comment about Boston Legal from Tuesday night . . . I was just trying to be funny - sorry it failed! Such is a mother's life. Alas, alas - (from crossword puzzles).
'fer said Biz went east this weekend. What is in your plans?
We have a corned beef dinner to go to tonight. Also, we worked the child ID program this morning. That is it for us.
Love - mom 
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 BigBro Sat Mar 18 11:37:07 AM
Who's Pepe????
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BizB Thu Mar 16 06:23:14 PM
Huh?
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Betty Boop Thu Mar 16 04:39:29 PM
well, I thought "si senor" was close enough. No comment on that from you either - so there! 
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BizB Thu Mar 16 01:38:55 PM
And not one "Denny Crane" last night! WTF?
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Betty Boop Thu Mar 16 10:37:20 AM
si, senor!
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BizB Thu Mar 16 09:14:13 AM
Last night, I had planned on writing an update wherein I planned to discuss Boston Legal and the political slant thereof. I realize that most trial lawyers are liberal weenies, but for the love of Pepe, do they have to inject that crap into every show?
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Betty Boop Wed Mar 15 04:22:23 PM
ohhhhh - what a sweet pic - and she can hold her own bottle now!! Ohhhhh!
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BigBro Tue Mar 14 03:45:30 PM
Fingers are sore but at least I can now type with them. Just about done with Bob & Gerri's remodel, but I need to get a few more things done before I can wrap it up altogether. They have been very patent with having their house messed up with tools and sawdust. When I finish that I can start getting things ready for my own project. I wish I had started this kind of thing when I was younger, my joints (not the wood ones) don't seem to work like they used to.
I have to thank Sopops for all he taught me about working with wood and not being afraid to try to do something new. I learned a lot as a gofer.
Have a 'rita for me. Hope you feel better soon.
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Betty Boop Tue Mar 14 01:17:03 PM
big bro - how are the fingers now? Do you have all your outside work done so you can concentrate on your own house. I have the feeling that things are going to go quickly for you once they get the ground "broke".
We are having dinner tonight with our fellow dock mates from Brand's in Port Clinton - Chuck & Janet. They now have a big motor home and are in FL for a while. They are driving up from Bushnell to see us; we shall dine at Marguerita Grill!! Yummy. I might even have one of those famous drinks.
Tomorrow I have to see the Dr. again - my stomach still is acting up and every test they have run was normal. Don't know what else he can do but will try anything within reason.
Hugs to all - 
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BizB Tue Mar 14 08:16:03 AM
The pictures don't really do it justice, but it was just snowing so hard here that I couldn't see across the street. Too bad a) It's not sticking, b) It didn't last long.
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Betty Boop Mon Mar 13 12:56:40 PM
well, it looks like you did from the last pics we saw of you.
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BizB Sun Mar 12 05:57:08 PM
Who shaved? Not me!
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 sopops Sun Mar 12 05:19:40 PM
the forgoing comments were from MOM
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sopops Sun Mar 12 04:45:57 PM
whoops = SHAVED!! 
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sopops Sun Mar 12 04:45:17 PM
You haved!!!
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Betty Boop Sun Mar 12 08:09:28 AM
Omission - well, not omission but rather the addendum (about the fence barb which "gotcha")
How ya feelin today?
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 Talix18 Sun Mar 12 06:51:18 AM
Life was so much less exciting as an only child!
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BizB Sat Mar 11 05:39:25 PM
Omission?
Yes, there were 3 stitches.
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sopops Sat Mar 11 04:49:52 PM
Keep writting. maybe a story abt growing up in our old neighborhood!! after i'm dead of course
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Betty Boop Sat Mar 11 03:37:40 PM
There is a note for BBCK on her page.
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Betty Boop Sat Mar 11 03:31:43 PM
Well, in spite of the one slight omision, it was a very visual story. I still say somewhere in you there is at least one book. Never say never.
So, were there stitches or not?
You both do a good job and I am so proud of you both. Love, mom
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BigBro Sat Mar 11 12:26:29 PM
Now if I could only keep my own body parts out of the way of powertools, I could have other people stop driving me to the hospital. I've yet to have to drive myself there. I hope I never have to...
My kid summed things up for me when talking to someone one on the phone about my accident. He said "Dad is a putz with power tools but damn he does damn good work when he's not bleeding"
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BizB Sat Mar 11 11:42:31 AM
I do remember being askared of Norman's driving. And, more important, I do remember that you were the one who held my wrist all the way to the hospital. I remember feeling safe because you were there.
Thanks for that.
And now that you mention it, I do remember an sense of "Cliff is in charge" at some point shortly after one of you put your hand on my wrist.
There wasn't a lot of fear for me that day.
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BigBro Sat Mar 11 11:21:04 AM
It's funny how memories can be different for each of us. I remember things just a little differently about that day.
I wasn't pissed off at you but rather at the instigator, to tell you the truth, growing up I hated him. I was watching him run as he allways did, when I realized what you had done, and came over slapping my hand over the wound, putting pressure on it. Steve came running back thinking that I had cought you and was hurting you. You know he was never good around blood. Taking charge I told Steve to go get a towel. I held your wrist until Steve got back with the towel, and then we made our way to the neighbors house. I had to lift the towel to convince Mrs.B to get moving. She had Mr B drive us to the ER.
The scarriest part of the whole day for me was the ride to the ER with Norman B. driving. That man was all over the road. I think that he drove where he was looking and kept looking at your arm with me holding the towel on your wrist. And yes since I did see the wound as it was first filling up with blood, and yes I too remember seeing things that shouldn't be exposed to the light of day.
As "Big Bro" I allways had to be the responsible one, looking out for my brothers, even if I detested the way that they enjoyed teasing me. What I hated about Steve the most was the way he could do whatever the hell he wanted, and get away with it.
At the end of the day Dad took and bent down every single thing that stuck up on that fence, and he didn't even care if Thelma (our bitchey next door neighbor) bitched about it and she bitched about just about everything.
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