2024, That Disrespectful Jerk

How it only took 12 hours for the Year of Our Lord 2024 to announce its presence with authority and change our lives forever

The old Summersville Dam outlets on the Gauley River

A week into the new year, and we are overdue a chat about how it be going.

Welp…it be going, as the old timers would generically say whether they had just won the lottery or their house had burned down with all their possessions and loved ones inside. Both answers would be delivered without a change of expression. 

“No plan survives first contact with the enemy” is the cut down, colloquial version of “No plan of operations extends with certainty beyond the first encounter with the enemy's main strength” from Moltke, who probably stole it, and has been bastardized countless ways since. I had plenty of plans for 2024 both personally, and with my writing and media, including this space. Over the holidays taking a bit of a break, like many folks, I was thinking of how to hit 2024 running and get something done.  

But then we had first contact with 2024, which chose violence and decided to be an enemy right from the jump. Didn’t even make it 12 hours. 

Around noon on New Year's Day, my father had what was obviously a stroke. My college age daughter was with him, and reacted instantly getting EMS to respond. Thanks to always excellent local volunteer firefighters and EMS, my father was in the ER and getting tPA within 30 minutes of onset. His symptoms briefly subsided but then worsened. The local regional hospital then transported him to Ruby Memorial/WVU Medicine in Morgantown shortly thereafter. 

While we knew he had a stroke it took a bit to find out what kind. Apparently, the type my father suffered is pretty rare, around 10% of all stroke-related medical issues. I’ll not bore you with all the details and nomenclature but he has right side hemiparesis and is now at the excellent rehab facility adjacent to WVU medicine. While he’s struggling to talk, that is thankfully a neuromotor function and not cognitive. Dad is very motivated and is constantly working on his PT, OT, and speech. For a guy whose idea of retiring was to wind down to only have one full time job, my father doesn’t know any other way to do it but go hard. He is frustrated but in good spirits. He should be in rehab center a few weeks before transitioning to home health. 

So, that’s how 2024 started around here. Needless to say, I will be spending most of my time Up Yonder helping out my mom - who dad takes care of before his current issues - and my father. Now, we are going to be fine on multiple levels. My father is extremely organized and has been very smart with his money over the years so everything is set up well to care for them. Dad is really motivated and already making gains. Mom is holding up well. I am making arrangements to be Up Yonder full time starting the end of this week to help mom & dad and prepare for the road ahead. Having rehabbed my own TBI with right side paralysis, I feel that now was a blessing as I walk dad through what’s coming, and explain to mom so she understands. 

So, having been punched in the mouth good and hard by 2024, we now adjust. I have no idea what all that means for my work writing, doing media, and so forth so I won’t try to lay out a plan. I can write anywhere, and fortunately three days before the stroke dad - FINALLY - got modern high-speed internet installed in the homeplace Up Yonder. Theoretically I should be able to do about everything up there I’ve been doing but we will see. My priority, as always, is caring for family first, then the rest of this as I can. But I will write, and hopefully do more shows, podcasts, and media hits, as we can. 

That how it be with me and mine. Will keep you updated. And I do hope you and yours are well, well fed, and enjoying their 2024.