A good scare!

[cbl51]

Yesterday morning about 5AM I woke up with chest pains and pain down both arms. Hell of a rude awakening!

Given my senior citizen age and mediacal history of a minor heart problem, I thought, "Oh smurfe, it's the big one". I got up and went to the bathroom and chewed up a couple aspirins, and woke up my better half. Karen asked me what was wrong, and all I could say to her, thinking each second may be my last, was "I love you."

Then I told her what was up and she started to throw on some clothes and call 911. The EMT's got there and at the ER they plugged me into machines that beeped and clicked. drew blood for tests and gave me a good going over that lasted for 4 hours.

Ends up it wasn't a heart attack, but a muscle spasm in my back between my shoulder blades that affected the nerve bundle in my chest and shoulders. A relief and a reminder to refrain from mountain biking at my age especially after not being on a bike for over 10 years.

BUT...do you know what went through my mind in those minutes between waking and the EMT's wheeling me out on a gurney?

I didn't think jack squat about my material things, and they all could have went right in the landfill right then for all I cared. All I thought about was, I hadn't told my wife of decades that I loved her yet that morning. I thought of my kids and grandkids that I wouldn't have the chance to say goodbye to. Knives, guns, all the 'stuff,' was just nothing. Less than nothing.

I've been heading in the direction of minimalism for years now, but After yesterday I think I'm really going to embrace it. I've learned that all the collections of whatever don't mean anything if you don't live like each day was your last, and let the people in your life know how much you love them and care about them. Material items don't mean Jack s--t and jack's on vacation in Vegas!

Just a thought after a heck of a scare.

[magentus]

That's a relief cbl  Glad you have your priorities right! Would you like my address? 

[El Corkscrew]

That's a relief cbl  Glad you have your priorities right! Would you like my address? 

But seriously, glad you're okay... and you bring up a good point.   I'm feeling like I have more SAKS than i can even enjoy. 

[magentus]

You already have my address El-C 

All joking aside, I'm so glad for you cbl - It's when something like this happens that your priorities become clear. 

[captain spaulding]

Glad to hear it wasn’t the ole ticker.

I actually had a very similar experience recently. I had severe chest and arm pain and was taken to the ER immediately. While I was in the hospital hooked up to all the machines I could care less about all my material possetions including my knives and MT’s. They meant nothing to me and I would destroy them all just to make it through the night. It really changed the way I think about things and I ended up selling off a lot of my collection after that. I am going minimalistic now and couldn’t be happier. Less things to take care of, less tools to worry about rusting or cleaning or what have you. A experience like the one we had made me a better person and changed me forever.

[cbl51]

Glad to hear it wasn’t the ole ticker.

I actually had a very similar experience recently. I had severe chest and arm pain and was taken to the ER immediately. While I was in the hospital hooked up to all the machines I could care less about all my material possetions including my knives and MT’s. They meant nothing to me and I would destroy them all just to make it through the night. It really changed the way I think about things and I ended up selling off a lot of my collection after that. I am going minimalistic now and couldn’t be happier. Less things to take care of, less tools to worry about rusting or cleaning or what have you. A experience like the one we had made me a better person and changed me forever.

That's what happened to me back in 2001. It caused me to do my fist big downsize of stuff, including knife collection and gun collection. The kids, gadnkids, a nephew and two nieces made out like bandits. I took huge pleasure in giving the stuff away while I was still alive to enjoy seeing them happy to get it and use it like it was intended, instead of safe queens.

This incident was like a reminder from the big guy upstairs. When you get to a certain point in life, it can end with no warning. I'm going to leave few personal items  behind. Life is easier when it's uncluttered. It was scary to think was going to be over in a few seconds. All that stuff we value doesn't mean anything.

[NorCalJim]

Happy to hear your good news, cbl51!

I have been an athlete most of my life and have enjoyed years of martial arts along with the usual sports. I had a special love for basketball and at 6'7" with good leaping ability, was able to get my head within an inch of the rim. Time has caught up with me as I am also a senior citizen with 6 coronary stents, a couple of knee surgeries and my sports involvement is as a spectator from my recliner.

My wife indulges me and my hobbies wonderfully and I let her know how much I love her and how much she means to me several times throughout each day. We let our kids know how important they are to us and how much we love them and are still sending them Christmas packages and Easter baskets with both in their late 40s. Things are just things and can be replaced. They can enrich our lives but never replace what is most important in our lives.

Jim

[Aloha]

Glad to hear you are alright. 

[Syncop8r]

Glad it wasn't as bad as you thought, and a good reminder of what's really important!

[glenfiddich1983]

Glad it wasn't as bad as you thought, and a good reminder of what's really important!

+1!

[Mechanickal]

Glad you're ok!

Stay safe

[LoopCutter]

I am very great full you are doing better after the scare.

Keep those priorities in order, every day evaluate them, and if you miss something make up for it ASAP. 

I wish you many, many more sunrises with each being better than the previous one!  All the best.

PS: I really don’t need any more, BUT if you got any orange handled items I could be persuaded;)




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[AimlessWanderer]

Phew! Glad to hear it's a false alarm Carl. Look after yourself buddy, and don't go silly on that bike. SAKs are a smurf of a lot easier to replace than cbl51s.

"Stuff" has zero value when you're about to check out, but can have immense value while your living. We only need to look back at the accounts of how you keep saving the day and helping your family out to know that. 

I think it's important to find the right balance for where you are in your life right now. 5 years ago, I genuinely needed WAY more "stuff" than I do right now. You might not be able to take it with you, but you can certainly have a lot of fun, and do a heck of a lot of good with it while you're here - and I hope to keep hearing your accounts of how you saved the day with your pocket knife for a few more decades yet my friend 

[Tired_Yeti]

I'm glad to hear it was a skeletal muscle problem and not the cardiac muscle.
Thanks for taking to time to share a much needed wake up call to all of us. The luxury of materialism is a very First World problem and a huge waste of time and money. All of our "stuff" serves as a huge distraction from life more often than not.
I prefer to learn from other people's experiences. So thanks again for taking the time to share your epiphany with us.


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[Poncho65]

Glad to hear it was a false alarm buddy I agree that a person needs to appreciate family and friends in this life and make sure they know it Even if I acquire things in the now, the possessions are not what's important Never let possessions control your life and only do this (or any type of collecting) as a hobby as long as it makes you happy

[Huntsman]

Phew CBL - Very happy for the outcome of your scare
And yes things like that do make you realise your priorities in life - Although I do agree with 50' too - It's important to enjoy yourself along the way, with hobbies, sport, maybe even work
As long as you know your top priorities - And these always have to be your loved ones.

Being frivolous for a moment - If I may
- This did remind me of a great quote from Bill Shankly - who was probably the Liverpool football (soccer) team's most famous manager (in the 70s I think)
The Liverpool supporters were/are some of the most fanatical in the UK, and Shankly was being asked about this in an interview and he said

Well yes - Some people believe football is a matter of life and death, I am very disappointed with that attitude. I can assure you it is much, much more important than that.

For football substitute your favourite obsession ... multitools       

[ThundahBeagle]

Cbl 51,

From the mouths of babes comes truth. Them and those who think they may be shedding their mortal coil in mere minutes.

Good to hear all is well! Maybe ease into it next time, right? Not so much exertion all at once.

[Alan K.]

I'm happy to hear you're alright.  This brings up another issue that friends keep reminding me of.  If you have extensive collections of anything it might be a good idea to do a proper inventory including pictures of each item and each item's current market value so your loved ones will have an easier time liquidating the collections when you're gone rather than having to accept low ball bids from unscrupulous dealers and the collecting community simply because they don't know any better.

[Barry Rowland]

 +1!!  Take care of yourself sir!  I had a similar scare a couple years ago and it sure puts things in perspective. 

Phew! Glad to hear it's a false alarm Carl. Look after yourself buddy, and don't go silly on that bike. SAKs are a smurf of a lot easier to replace than cbl51s.

"Stuff" has zero value when you're about to check out, but can have immense value while your living. We only need to look back at the accounts of how you keep saving the day and helping your family out to know that. 

I think it's important to find the right balance for where you are in your life right now. 5 years ago, I genuinely needed WAY more "stuff" than I do right now. You might not be able to take it with you, but you can certainly have a lot of fun, and do a heck of a lot of good with it while you're here - and I hope to keep hearing your accounts of how you saved the day with your pocket knife for a few more decades yet my friend 

[Barry Rowland]

  Mags you never quit!!   

That's a relief cbl  Glad you have your priorities right! Would you like my address? 

[pomsbz]

Thanks for the message, I needed to hear it right now.

[lister]

Muscle spasms during the night are always fun. 

I had a few. Although I have to report they completely failed to make me a better person so I remain a materialistic smurf. 

 

[Kev D]

Glad your scare was nothing major 


now, have you told your wife you love her today? 

[Zhenchok]

Thanks for the message and glad that you are ok!


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[ThePeacent]

thank God you're stil here with us sharing your stories, Carl. I'm glad it was nothing major   
As for the "heads up" I can also relate. When I spent almost all September in the hospital I also forgot about my tools, the things I enjoyed every day and the hobby. Even the $1000 worth of stuff that they took from me upon being admitted in the ward was a far cry of anything relevant at the time.

Now that I am also better and this bad time is gone, I'd rather have the value of the items I got taken in cash than the things themselves, so that I can spend it in what's more important, and time with family and friends. I have enough toys to cover all the bases that those things took care of.

I hope you stay around even if you go to the "next level" of your minimalist approach in the near future.
best regards,

 

[cbl51]

thank God you're stil here with us sharing your stories, Carl. I'm glad it was nothing major   
As for the "heads up" I can also relate. When I spent almost all September in the hospital I also forgot about my tools, the things I enjoyed every day and the hobby. Even the $1000 worth of stuff that they took from me upon being admitted in the ward was a far cry of anything relevant at the time.

Now that I am also better and this bad time is gone, I'd rather have the value of the items I got taken in cash than the things themselves, so that I can spend it in what's more important, and time with family and friends. I have enough toys to cover all the bases that those things took care of.

I hope you stay around even if you go to the "next level" of your minimalist approach in the near future.
best regards,

 

Yeah, sometimes nature can give us a wake up call to whats really important. Ironically, it was a scare years ago that started my first big downsize. I did have  small cardio issue and years ago I thought it was the big one. After, I sold off almost my whole collection of both guns and knives, spare power tools and all kinds of stuff. All the Randall knives went, the high end guns like Colt Python, and the money went to a second honeymoon With my better half. Tossed all the camping gear in the car and spent a month on the road visiting all the major national parks like Yellowstone, Custer, Bryce, Grand Canyon, Arches, Canyon lands, Mesa Verde. Had a ball and made memories that will be with me to my dying day. Watched the sun rise over the Grand Canyon and saw the blues and purples and reds of the canyon come alive in the rising sun.

Way way better than having some over priced over hyped knife in the safe at home.

Life is for living, not collecting  inanimate objects to obsess over. I know that now. From now on, I'm spending what time I have left to go ut and live life, and use the heck out of what I've got making new memories. If I have money for buying a new object, then that money is going to be spent going on a overnight trip getaway someplace to a Bed and Breakfast place with Karen. Maybe out to the Big Bend country, or Padre Island to the beach.

[Huntsman]

^^^^   ........ Yeah ........         ^^^^    

[El Corkscrew]

^^^^   ........ Yeah ........         ^^^^    

+1 

[EMZ]

In 2015 I had a couple of kidney stones travelling down from my kidney to my bladder while I was shopping with my wife. I was on my knees in the middle of a huge, over crowded German shopping mall, trying to behave normal.
Man, did it hurt! It hurt so much, I even wasn't able to tell my wife how much it hurt. She asked again and again if I would talk to her. Then suddenly I realized I had a kidney stone attack. It was the first time I experienced it, but I knew I would survive and that the excruciating pain would end within an hour or so. I grinned to my wife and used the F word may times. Luckily within half an hour I was on my feet again and we went to our hotel. A few month later the stones were removed.
During the attack I would have given all my knives if it had helped to stop the pain!!
As they say: "A healthy person has a 1000 wishes, a sick person only has one".

Collecting is a nice thing to do, as long as you remember it is probably the least important thing in you life.

[Aloha]

As they say: "A healthy person has a 1000 wishes, a sick person only has one".