I Need More Therapy--its lots of fun..

About 6 weeks ago, I somehow agitated my Piriformis muscle. Its on the right hip. Next to a nerve.

I couldn't walk, ride my bike or sit. That cheek just started to ache and then it got painful.

Well, the hip dr said Your hips are ok, the back dr said its not your back or sciatica but recommended Physical Therapy.


So, thats how I met Allen Mazur. He would be my therapist at Athletico. For several weeks he started twisting my body. Mostly my right leg into positions I never experienced.

On graduation day I had him pose with me. This time he was the one bending. Bending his 6'05 frame down to my level.

Today, I can just say thank you Allen, I have no pain. I just miss our conversations. Go Cubs.

-----------------------------------------------------------

As I was leaving Atletico, I met a really good guy that broke me in on the Job in 1966.

Ray Malcynski. My first day working he took me under his wing. Com-on Cadet, ride with us a month or two until you get the hang of it.

Ray is only 2 yrs older than me, but he was so much wiser. Too bad, he had a knucklehead with me.
I'll never forget his kindness and warmth. He still is a great guy.


-------------------------------------------------


Finally, I met Tom Swain at Athletico.

As a cadet in 1963, I was assigned to Shakespeare as a Cadet. A civilian in uniform.

I worked inside the Secretary's office and alongside Tom Swain. Tom never had a bad day and was the most competent man I ever met.

He could Type, talk on the phone, write notes, laugh and eat a donut at the same time.

He's another old timer with a new hip.

So Therapy was more than just physical. It was like visiting my youth. Well, I didn't feel so bad when other coppers were falling apart too. WOW, did that make me feel good. Its ok to say that isn't it.

A Lot of Sunshine...in the Form of Friends.

A lot of sunshine into Big Jims life.

This past week has really been busy.

I was sitting outside Panerra talking about my old (1984) partner Ed Valkanet.
The phone rang and it was Ed himself.

Hey Jim, I'm with my wife and cousin in Chicago from ft Myers.

Would you like to meet us at Panerra in Park Ridge?
I'll be waiting for you Ed.

I called my wife, picked her up and spent a pleasant few hours with Ed & Judy.

Ed looks meek now, but he was one of the toughest roughest police on the job.

Strong as a bull.

He had a change of life and became man for Jesus. First Bible studying for many years.

He retired from the police dept and started working on Jesus' team.

His wife Judy and him have been on many missionary trips and just returned from the Phillipines.

We had a great time talking. Promising to visit them in Fla our next trip down
--------------------------
As some of you might know I was Officer Friendly in the Shakespeare Police District back in 1970. During the summers I would be assigned to Neighborhood Relations and spend the summer doing terrible work.

Like taking neighborhood youth to Wrigley Field, the museums, swimming pools, and other

places around Chicago.

When we were walking out of Panerra, we heard someone say Hey Officer Friendly, Elliott.

I turned and one of the kids had grown up and recognized me after all those years. Ok, he recognized my voice. It was Herman from all the trips

My spirits were so high. I felt great. Another,day with a lot of sunshine provided by friends and my wife.

-----------------------------

Bad Day at 7 yrs.

--Response to a friends bad day--


7 yrs.

Isn't that when you review the past 7 yrs.
At least Tom Ewell did it in the 7 yr itch.

You put the cards on the table.

Positive and a negative.

Sometimes, it just gets to us.

Instead of looking to the future, we sometimes remember the past.
sometimes our past feelings,
the hurt feelings,
broken promises,
lost dreams.

Maybe we look across the street or next door.
Is the grass really greener. The smiles bigger.

Maybe we should look to the future.

Re-plan our spirit.
re-plan our dreams and expectations.
Does every moment have to be like out of Father Knows Best,

I'm 63.
The few mornings I have left could lead to special days.

New memories/new stories.
Or I could wait for something good to knock on the front door.
Yeah, sure..

I love life, I love the blue skies, I love the characters I know.

Once, while visiting a dying friend who was drugged up,
he started reaching above the bed trying to catch falling leaves.

I pointed out there were no leaves falling in his hospital room.

He said he knew that. That it was a hallucination.
But that he wanted to enjoy the experience.
To go out with a smile.

So, he laughed and smiled as he reached up, closed his hand and smiled again as he opened it.

I hope your smile returns and you experience it, enjoy it.

A smile and hug with your husband might just bring his smile back and add to yours.

If not tonight, there is always tomorrow.
Tomorrow. Another beautiful day, another chance.

I will for sure hug and kiss my wife tonight.

mr e.

Therapy Does Not Have To Be Boring...

I don't know if I wrote you or not but I somehow hurt my piriformis muscle and nerve.

If you go to your right butt cheek about 2 inches below the (my) pants belt,
deep inside the fatty part, it is where the piriformisa muscle is.

6 weeks ago it started hurting and got so bad I could not walk or ride a bicycle.

I went to the hip dr who sent me to the back dr who sent me to the sciatic dr(same as back).

Who sent me to a physical therapist. Allan knew what was wrong and has been bending me and twisting me since.
Actually he calls it stretching.

Today I finally feel good enough to maybe walk this afternoon.

From sitting and moaning these 6 weeks I gained 2 lbs
but look so flabby I am embarrassed.

My legs are starting to firm up. and even my butt. I never thought I would have any tone or muscles in my butt cheek again but sure enough they have returned.

I started stretching at home and even did sit ups. Yes, 10 last night...

I lifted weights at brooks park and hit the heavy bag last night.

I hope to start a little jogging and dribbling the bball at the gym.

Today I was on the treadmill which I usually only do 8 MINUTES.

The machine was near the window and I couldn't help but look out.

I saw a window washer and that kept me going for 12 MINUTES.

It was so interesting watching the window washer.
A good distraction from the boring treadmill.

Even my trainer found it interesting. Then some of the other patients.
It take talent to do a good job.
And let me tell you, this window washer had talent.

I took a photo and the windows were so clean.

After Therapy, some other old men and the therapist suggest I drive over
to the window washer and explain how we found the job so interesting.

So I did and said thank you for the distraction. We both turned toward the
therapy windows and waved.

c'ya

jim

40 Years Today

That day Aug 5th, 1967
Today, Aug 5th, 2007

A beautiful young girl and a dopey, slightly haired young man entered into something they had no idea what it was about.

40 yrs ago Karolyn and I met at the front of Immaculate Conception's main Aisle.

We looked at each other, passed the rings and said I do.

The party was at Builders Hall on central ave. It was during the Viet Nam war and some friends could not attend.

We did a couple stupid dances together and danced a lot with friends.

Had fun and stayed the entire night. I think we were the last to leave.
40 yrs of having fun and being the last to leave most parties has been our routine.

Today, downtown Chicago, they have a musical extravaganza called Lalapaloosa with 10 band shells going at one time.

The professional beach volleyball is going on.

Tonight, 4 children--3 grandchildren, sons and daughter in laws, will get together at Navy Pier. Which is between the above two events.

Our event will be celebrated at BUBBA GUMPS SHRIMP HOUSE.

Remember Forest Gump. Yep, that's it.

Too bad it can't be another 40 years. Its been a interesting fun ride.

THANK YOU KAROLYN.....I LOVE YOU, Jim

Driving Thru Model Years

I heard Commander Ron and Broken Biker Pat say "Then we'll meet Tuesday at 9:30am here at Panera." Thats how I got involved.

Hey whats going on. We're going to Volo Auto Museum, do you want to join us.

Hell Ya, it sounds better than golf. Count me in.

Today Tuesday we met at coffee and asked Shy Roger if he wanted to join us. Sure, I'm not doing anything.

Pat volunteered to drive as he has a monster Ford 250 4dr cab, extended bed truck.
Roger, Me, Big John, Ron, and Pat

The 5 of us sat comfortably for the 25.2 mile ride. Ron won the guess of how many miles from his home in Mt. Prospect.

The ride was quick and so were the wise cracks. Seems like each of us took the brunt of others humor.

Before any world problems could be solved we were in Volo IL. A really tiny town or we saw a small part.


We paid our admission and didn't ask for the Senior discount but still the cashier asked me if I wanted the senior discount.

Why did she ask me? She didn't ask Ron or John or that gray hair shy guy, Roger.

Look at the photo. Do I look that old. Just because I cut my hair short. HELL NO I told her. I'm only 62.

By the way, how much is the discount. 2 bucks huh.

oh, do I qualify.

Nope 65. I know I don't look 65. Maybe Ron does

Soon, we started our trip.

Thru the specialty cars from the movies.

The BatMobile

Dr. Seuss' vehicle.

The Flintones vehicles.

The Ghostbusters car

Then to another building where maybe a hundred cars were lined up.

They're almost all for sale and had the sale price on them.

$10,000--21,000---69,000 up to $250,000 for a Mustang l, I believe.

Corvette's, Chevelles, 442's, Barracuda's, Carmaro's, 55-56 T-birds. You name it and if it were a muscle car, it was there.

We moved out of that building to bldgs 2 & 3 and the antiques.

All were enjoyable and brought back so many memories. Mostly about how Ron's first car had a seat that after pulling a hidden wire, the passenger seat back would drop back flat.

None of us could understand why a teenager would want a seat like that.

After a few hours of bursting smiles and leaving our fingerprints
on cars with "Please don't touch the cars" signs all over them.

Yes, the old guys remembered these cars from a part of our lives long gone but not forgotten.
Pat, 44yrs, remembered these cars from stories his father and uncles told him.

So many of our favorite cars were older than Pat.

They all looked in good shape or like new. But I'm sure they had their hidden problems.

Sort of like us.

The old guys, we're nice to look at, but who would want to take us for a ride.
c'ya
jim

Another Friday Night In Another City--Niles

Park Ridge, home of Hillary, has a fine arts concert each Friday night. As a group we have been attending for a few years.

Fridays are busy. Today a little more than usual. Talk at McDonalds at 7am, Breakfast at Sunrise, followed by Panerra.

During breakfast this morning, with the Neighbors. We all discussed if we would see each other at the concert tonight. I knew of other concerts that weren't so long hair. Tonight it was Mozart. How many years do we have to listen to this guys music.

I mentioned that other very close cities have more lively concerts. You know like oldies or rock & roll.

Some eyes rolled and Jerry Murphy jumped in and said he would check out the local paper.

At 4pm we got the call. Niles is having oldies night in the park about a mile from the house.

At 7:30pm we walked past the playground where 50 young kids were climbing the monkey bars and other devices.

Thru the greenery we could see the crowd and the stage in front.

This must be the place.

A short distance ahead we could see our friends just sitting down.

We joined them and discovered that our friends had brought treats.

A cheap bottle of wine $4 from Trader Joe's that said it beat the expensive wines in some national contest.

Yes, even I thought it was good.

Then Peg brought out some Pretzel bread with a little cheese and turkey wrapped up inside.

Gail Powers brought Spicey Liversausage on crackers. Karolyn thought it was the best.

Me, with a name like LIVER SAUSAGE, gave it a pass. Just let me enjoy the music.

Sure enough soon THE RAGTOPS started to play and they sounded good. We started to get the urge to get up and start swinging.



But first we have to get into the mood.

That cheap wine sure helped put the smile on us.
Then it was get out of our way.

Peg and Karolyn were ready for some action.

Soon the ladies were dancing. And picking up men and women. They ran over to Phillip and dragged him over to dance with them.

The old guy did a great job. I had my camera and took many photos. It was dark but some came out ok.

Another women Pat came running over and jumped into the dancing folks.

She had the biggest smile on her face as did the crowd.
Seems like more concert goers were turned and watching our group than the band.







Yes, Big Jim could not help myself and did a little hip shaking, arm swinging and singing.

Hey, who could hear me with the loud music.

I thought I sounded good.

They played about an hour.. all of our favorites from the 50's and a few from the 60's.

From the Big Bopper -- the Beatles --Neil Diamonds "Sweet Karoline" -- the twist and many more sweet tunes.

Yes, we all had a great time except for those who don't like to dance. NOT ME....

I really enjoyed the night, the music and friends. I wondered "Life is Great".

c'ya
jim