Tuesday, August 1, 2017

Words for Wednesday-Getting the boot

For this weeks Words for Wednesday entry we are linking up with River over at Drifting through life.

This true story began with a comment  I made on River's blog about a pair of green boots that I own.

This week's words are:
suburbia, concessions, morning, process, blackness, overkill
and/or:
instantly, matinee, regularly, whispering, kicked, height

And straight from River: Let the creativity begin! 😎

Getting the boot

The early morning process is exactly the same every day, he wakes up just as the sun rises and pulls his boots from behind the closet door right next to his bed.

They don't live in suburbia but in a rural area. The demands of owning horses, chickens, and other animals deem the need to feed and water them regularly, and these boots have kicked through a lot more than just dust and grass.

side view of Jimmy's Justin roper boot with green top
These boots have been through many things with him, looking at them now you can see that they are far from being new, but the concessions of being beaten, scraped, and abused proves that they are indeed his favorite.

There was a time when these boots were called stellar, but we will get to that later. He went all the way from California to Lubbock, Texas before he found these boots, his intention was for a new "dress pair" of boots and these were selected, he didn't necessarily like the green tops at first, the green is a little much as far as the looks go, he told his wife.

She told him "I think the green looks good" but when he tried them on and stood to full height, the decision was made, these were now his everyday boots, he actually threw his old boots into the box and began wearing the green boots right away.

On the ninth day of January in 2014, he was raking leaves in the backyard. He suddenly became tired and winded so he went inside to rest, he picked up a book “Linthead: Growing Up in a Carolina Cotton Mill Village” and sat down to continue reading it.

To make a long story short, he was instantly struck with a sharp pain behind both ears, the beginning of a migraine he thought, and being forced to go to the emergency room by his wife and father in law was overkill in his opinion, he described the pain to the Doctor as cold ice picks being shoved into both ears at once.

After an EKG the Doctor came back into his room and said "I'm sending you to Palm Springs where they can take care of you" He replied "Palm Springs, for a migraine?" The Doctor smiled, patted him on the leg and said, "You are having a Heart Attack Son."

While loading me onto a gurney the paramedic said "Jimmy I'm going to take your boots off" he held them up looking at them for a minute, "Man those are some stellar boots Jimmy" that was the last I saw of my boots for awhile.

I knew that I was in trouble when I saw Cindy's face through the back window of the ambulance. She was following in our car and the sudden look of fear on her face when the siren began blaring told me this was serious. Lights, sirens, nitro doses, and a lot of calming talk happened during the quickest ride I've ever made to Palm Springs.

During the matinee performance in the Cath lab at Desert Regional Medical Center is where the rest of my clothing disappeared. Without anesthesia they went into a vein in my groin with a catheter, a procedure that removed a 100% blockage and inserted a stent into an artery supplying blood to my heart. As my world was enveloped in blackness when I passed out from the pain, I thought they were killing me, but they were instead actually saving my life.

I did suffer another heart attack and had open-heart surgery a year later, I now have a defibrillator implanted and feel really good at where I am in my life. My advice to you is to never ignore any strange symptoms you may have, because they could point to something really serious. It's better to overreact than to ignore a signal your body is giving that you need help. Now back to Palm Springs.

There was a lot of whispering at the side of my bed while they thought I was sleeping, talk of how lucky I was, my strange symptoms, and the scary fact that by all rights I should have never made it to the hospital, but I did make it and a week later I was reintroduced to my boots.

a pair of Justin Roper boots crossed and propped up in a relaxed position

46 comments:

  1. Jimmy, that's really scary. Ice picks in both ears and then the rest. I'm so glad you lived to tell these tales and I LOVE the boots. I get odd pains from pulled muscles when I've been doing too much and always sit and listen to my heart which just keeps going steady and strong so I know I'm okay.

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    1. Hello River, I can say that was one of the times in my life where I was really scared, they got me out of the ambulance and into the cath lab before Cindy could get inside, I really thought I was dying when they started the procedure, but on a positive note that is a really easy procedure when not an emergency situation and they have time to numb you.

      I am glad your heart is strong and steady, and I pray it stays that way.

      I was going to try to post a picture for you to see but the words came around and everything just worked, two birds with one stone as they say ha ha.

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  2. This is a really lovely story and like River I LOVE your boots. Definitely stellar. I am so glad that you were saved to enjoy them all over again.

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    1. HI EC, Thank you my friend, I think I'll hold onto those boots for a while yet ;)

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  3. Great boots, I still have my husband's cowboy boots that look a lot like yours mini the green. Wonderful bit of writing, too. That's a challenge I don't think I'd be up for.

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    1. Hi Jean, I fretted over this challenge for a while before I jumped in, and one thing about it is you don't have to use all the words, I have just been lucky enough to so far, I have faith you could do it, but until then read everyone else's, it's funny the different directions folks go with the same list of words.

      These were the first pair of boots I have owned with a different colored upper like that, what impressed me the most was the comfort, that sold them more than the color ha ha.

      And speaking of comfort I bet there are memories and a small feeling of comfort when you see Dons boots sitting there.

      It's always good to see you Jean.

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  4. You need to listen to your body indeed. It will tell you when something is wrong. Most of the time anyway.

    Have a fabulous day. ☺

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    1. Hi Sandee, and sometimes you have to figure out what it is saying, but listen we have to.

      A great day to you also.

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  5. Wow...pain in your ears signalling a heart attack. Who'd a thunk it? So glad you came through and were reunited with those stellar boots....and, so glad you joined WFW.

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    1. Hey Delores, My cardiologist still shakes his head on those symptoms, says he uses me as an example to his other patients that symptoms aren't always typical, go figure, I had to be different ha ha.

      I'm glad too, just think if it hadn't worked out....well I don't want to think that :) , I'm glad I gave WFW a try, it's been a blast.

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  6. I've wore some comfortble cowgirl boots. My daughter in law got married in some when she married my son.
    Coffee is on

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    1. Hi Dora, there are some comfortable boots on the market, a lot of people are wearing them for different things.

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  7. Those are some impressive boots. I don't think I've seen green ones before.

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    1. Hello Stephen, you can find many different brands with the upper shaft colored differently like this, these happen to be Justin brand I've been very happy with them.

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  8. I've never seen boots with a top like that and a rounded toe. Glad you're around to wear them some more!

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    1. Hello Val, I've worn a rounded toe boot for many years, they sell a square toe that looks a little different but at my sons suggestion I tried on a pair and they are oh so comfortable, if hadn't already had three pairs of boots I would have gotten those right then.

      Thank you Val I'm hoping to wear out a lot more than this pair ;)

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  9. I've never worn a pair of boots before. Just men's dress shoes and sneakers

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    1. Hey Adam, a lot of people wear them for dress also, I have another pair for just that, they look a lot cleaner than this pair though.

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  10. You're getting good at this, Jimmy. I love the way you used the chosen words.

    Yep, I love the boots. Oh my, I remember how worried your blogging friends were about your health and thank goodness the medical profession knows how to deal with these things.

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    1. Good morning Valerie, I think that you would be good with this also, they normally give you the words on Wednesday but you can post your story any day after that. It has become a lot of fun for me.

      A lot of you were very supportive of me during that time, and I appreciate each of you, the technology we have in the medical profession is truly amazing.

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  11. Thank goodness both you and the boots survived. A happy ending to a scary tale.

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    1. Hello Bijoux, yes the boots and I look to be in about the same shape but are definitely still kicking. That was a scary time wasn't it? Glad it's behind us now.

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  12. Wohoo thats scary about the heart. Speaking of heart. I go for a nuclear stress test tomorrow. Still trying to figure out my chest pains for the past four weeks. Im like you and think the four hour stress test feels like over kill because I still dont think its my heart, But we shall see.
    Lisa

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    1. Hey Lisa, just relax and let everything do it's thing during the nuclear stress test, it feels weird when your heart races but just keep in mind that you are OK, I have had that one before with good results, I'm hoping they find an answer for you soon, and I'm surprised they haven't already.

      Good luck today, keep us informed.

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    2. My heart will race??? oh no! That scares me. It hurts when its racing and then I cant breathe!!! I really hope I can get some answer too.
      Thanks

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    3. Hey Lisa, the nuclear stress test I went through, they check your heart at rest, then give you a medication that races your heart and check it while it's working, it sounds a lot worse than it is, you just need to relax and let the Doctors gather the info, your part is pretty easy and you will be just fine, I have faith.

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  13. Wow Jimmy, those are symptoms that few would associate with a heart attack. You had a good doctor. Sooooo glad you are back in your favorite boots again and are all patched up. Thanks for putting this out there. You are right. We should never take strange symptoms lightly and should have them checked.

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    1. Hey Patti, I for one would have never thought heart attack with those symptoms either, but goes to show that nothing is textbook when it comes to unusual signs our bodies give us, it's better to be safe by getting checked out, than sorry that you didn't.

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  14. That's quite a story; especially since it's true!!

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    1. Hello Fran, truth is stranger than fiction for sure, and as strange as this one sounds it is definitely a true story.

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  15. A good story to read. A lot of thought went into it. An enjoyable read apart from the bit where you were having a heart attack.

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    1. Welcome Treey, Thank you Sir I appreciate your positive comments about this post. I am proud to have had you join us.

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  16. Those boots are brilliant!
    Wow, quite a story!

    All the best Jan

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    1. Hello Jan, thank you my friend, I'm honored.

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  17. Must have been scary indeed, and those boots look like they have lots of stories to tell as well. It was a great read. Greetings!

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    1. Yes sir, that was one of the scariest things I've ever been through, I imagine if those boots could talk....

      Good to see you my friend.

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  18. Old boots are the best kind of boots!

    I'd say these are your lucky boots.

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    1. Amen to that Lady, Old boots are the best boots and thanks to you I am dubbing these my lucky boots.

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  19. My advice to you is to never ignore any strange symptoms you may have...

    I've heard far too many stories of people who do just that, usually from family members who lost a loved one because he or she didn't go to the hospital.

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    1. Ignoring the symptoms is an easy thing to do, and exactly what I was doing then, had it not been for Cindy's Dad calling her and them talking me into going in, I was on my way to lay down and wait for the headache to go away.....we know what would have happened then, not a smart way of thinking on my part.

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  20. I'm so glad you're here to tell us this story, and to remind us all to listen to our bodies. You're a walking miracle! There's something quite adorable about those green boots, Jimmy! HUGE Hugs...RO

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    1. Thank you RO, I feel blessed to have this chance at carrying on with my life, I think it's a miracle also and really appreciate you saying it, Thank you RO.

      Gotta love those boots, rocking them as we speak.

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  21. Wow! That's quite a story. I never heard of that particularly symptom for a heart attack before, but I'm glad your wife convinced you to take it seriously.

    You're the man! Not only did you do a super job telling your tale, but you used a specific list of words to do it! Great job. (Nifty boots, too!)

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    1. Thank you Susan, that means a lot to me hearing your compliments on this one, I do appreciate you.

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  22. Those boots were made for walking and I am glad you got to put them back on and go walking again. Great telling of a story with such a happy ending.

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    1. Thank you Mam, I appreciate you coming over and your very kind comment, I hope to see you again.

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Thanks for stopping by, jump in and tell me what you think, or just say Hi, I really appreciate your comments.