This has been a really good week for the grim reaper. First Tony Wilson, and long ago, but not to me…Rob Greton. Then Brooke Astor – what I knew about her was almost nothing, a society dame who did a lot of philanthropy, but when I read the New York Times obituary, I was quite taken by her. If I ever have that kind of money to play with, she would be my role model. I loved to read about how down to earth she was, her personal style, it reminds me of something my Grandmother used to say “A well dressed guest is a complitment to the host”, and she certainly did by not dressing down when she visited those less fortunate then herself.
*sigh*
My Dad had surgery on Monday and though somewhat confused, is recovering nicely. It was pretty tough the first night. He was confused (he is 81) and in pain so that he kept thinking that if he moved up in the bed he would relieve the pain in his back. I spent the night trying to calm him, but after several hours had to give in to the fact that he needed restraints if either one of us were to get some sleep. The pain meds seemed to make him more agitated. Yesterday the Doctor perscribed some anti-anxiety meds and that has helped alot. Helping someone tie down your Dad is a sobering experience. He had back surgery to shave the nerve canals of his lumbar vertbrae to give more room to the nerves. He was in pain and could not stand up straight. I sure hope this works, we also hold out some hope that it will make him a bit more mentally alert as well, nothing like pain to dull the other senses. We also know that there is only so much that can be expected in any surgery or medical procedure.
My heart broke in two places today, maybe even three because of what I just read on the news. One – Tony Wilson, that rascal has passed no one like him will come our way again. Then I just went on the New Order site and saw that Rob Greton died way back in 2000, I had no idea and I was crazy about him – even had a little crush on him back in the day- heartbreak number two. When I saw 24 hour Party People it brought so many memories back. I had heard New Order interviewed on Jonsey’s show, 103.1 in LA, and then today I hear Peter Hook was in town last week, another piece broke, especially in light of what I learned today! My Dad had surgery on Monday so I don’t know if I would have seen him, but now he is gone, I hope we meet again someday. I think of him often and the old times at WB and at Capitol. I am so so sorry…Rest In Peace, Tony Wilson and best wishes to your family in their grief.
In the past I have had a tremendous respect for Penn and his activism. But his support of Hugo Chavez has changed all that. I think Al Gore needs to sit down and have a talk with the man. I hope after his photo op. he goes into town and walks around the city and chokes on the polluted air, gas is so heavily subsidized there that there is no incentive for curbing air pollution on any level. As I understand it, there are constant oil spills, and a general degradation of the oceans and land due to the petroleum industry. Penn and people like him seem unable to grasp that just because someone is the enemy of his enemy doesn’t make him a friend.
