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30
Jul

College Friend Jim Reston Passes!

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My good friend from college days at the University of North Carolina died recently. Jim Rushton wrote 18 books. He was a historian and novelist, and he provided a 96-page “interrogation” memo for David Frost’s TV interviews that prodded Nixon to admit, “I let the American people down” over Watergate.  He was a great athlete at Carolina, and still holds the record for scoring the most goals in a soccer match there.  We last visited in Linville, North Carolina on his book tour a year ago.  During our Carolina days, Jim and I would have dinner each evening at the Phi Delta Theta fraternity house. I wish our conversations had been recorded as we made a gallant effort to solve most of the world’s problems.  Jim was 82 years old and died of cancer.  I will sure miss my friend of 70 years.  To read his full biography, Click Here.

 

14
Dec

 COVID ON THE RISE- KEEP YOUR GUARD UP!

December 14, 2025

Monday, December 15th, 2025

Baton Rouge, Louisiana

 COVID ON THE RISE-

KEEP YOUR GUARD UP!

 There is good news and bad news about Covid. The Center for Disease Control, a federal agency, is reporting that Covid is on the rise in many states throughout America. The good news is that people who get the Covid booster are much less likely to get the disease.

  Let me tell you about my Covid experience. I hope none of you reading this article contract Covid. What happened to me was horrendous. I would not wish it on anyone.

I was being careful. Or so I thought. When the virus began spreading so rapidly at the beginning of 2020, I kept my guard up. We left home only occasionally, wore masks, and kept our distance. I knew I had to be cautious and keep up my resistance. I was well aware of the fact that a Covid attack would be damaging, possibly even fatal, at my age.

But then I learned a stark lesson.  You don’t get the Covid. The Covid gets you.

 In the fall of 2020, I made the mistake of attending a dinner on behalf of a close friend who was running for public office. I planned on staying just a short time, and thought I was keeping my distance. But somehow, through hook or crook, I became infected. The symptoms were shallow at first. I felt a little flushed and did not have a lot of energy.  But I chalked it up to being run down and possibly having a flu bug.  The symptoms persisted. I went to a local testing lab that did confirm I had contracted the virus.  By that time, I was feeling tired and sore all over. I was coughing a good bit with a sore throat. It was time to get some medical help.

The medical advice I received from my internist was to go to the emergency room of one of our local hospitals. My nephew put me in his truck and drove me to the emergency room.  Both of us felt it was the right decision and I will be put in good care. What a mistake!

I was given a room that would be my home for the next 12 days. It was a miserable experience. The care I received was satisfactory. But the right hand did not know what the left hand was doing. Covid was so new, and most hospitals had had little or no experience in treatments.

When I heard the doctor talking to the nurse about putting me on a ventilator, I knew I had to get out of there. The nurse in charge told me I was not ready to leave, but I knew if I did not make the effort, I might not ever get out. So I had my son pick me up, and brought me back home.

What a relief to get in my own bed. A wonderful home healthcare nurse stayed with me for the first two weeks. I was so weak, she had to assist me in moving the few steps to the portable toilet in my room. She also bathed me, as I had no energy to even raise my arms. But little by little, I could see my strength improve. Slowly, I increased my activity and could see major improvement. It took about four months of outpatient therapy to get in full recovery mode.

I know I’ve rambled a good bit, but I just needed to get this trauma off my chest. It was the worst medical experience of my life, and I continue to be angry.  I’m annoyed that I allowed myself to be exposed to the virus. I’m livid at the hospital for the poor care I received. And I’m disappointed over the fact that at my age, I have lost six months of living a full and active life.

I learned to be persistent in my recovery. Winston Churchill said: “If you’re going through hell, keep going.”  I’ve certainly been tenacious in making the best of a debauched situation. I always remember that people who have been damaged like me are dangerous. They know they can survive. And I’m a survivor.

It is a personal decision of whether or not to receive a Covid shot. But I never want to have the Covid experience again. I get the Covid booster the minute it becomes available. Many of my friends have had the Covid for the second or third time. I am immune. And I’m darn glad of it.

 Peace and Justice

Jim Brown

Jim Brown’s syndicated column appears each week in numerous newspapers throughout the nation and on websites worldwide. You can read all his past columns and see continuing updates at http://www.jimbrownla.com. 

 

 

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