Friday morning I head to my next stage —-  a long-term rehab facility in outstate Missouri.  When I return it should be back home. I will post and return email as I can. Keep The guest posts coming. Thanks to Marcia, Dustin and so many others for their help.
Afew days ago I shared A horrible picture of myself when I was in ICU (view post). Well below is a much better time.
Saturday night my good friend Marcia and I shared a pizza from Piazza della Pizzeria – in the lounge on my floor at St. Mary’s. Unlike when I first arrived at rehab, I was able to sit upright and maintain my own balance- not an easy task. the excellent staff assisted me into the chair, but I can now stand on my own rather than having to be lifted to get vertical.
I know that in time people will again see me walking around taking pictures of bad development practices.
As you all know by now, I had a stroke last month. I thought i’d answer some questions I know many of you have. this all started on the 1st of Feb. i was at home and got a headache. i started to lay down but then got up to take some aspirin. when doing so i realized I could not remain standing. I lowered mself to the floor so I would not fall.
I pulled myself around on the floor hoping to get to mr cell. i began some serious projectile vomitting. the next morning a good friend let herself into my place and she called 911. i ended up in ICU @SLU (image above).When this struck, my thoughts turned to Marti frumoff whodied last year.
i am so grateful to be alive and doing well in the rehab therapy. – steve
please excuse typos above as I am typing this myself using only my right hand.
An update by Steve’s friends:
When shown Margie’s previous post Steve’s first reaction was, “I am going to write a post called: Ten Things That Suck About Having a Stroke.” When asked what he loved about it he responded without missing a beat, “NOTHING!” THAT IS SO STEVE! With that, we — as Steve’s closest friends — are convinced more than ever that he is on the road to full recovery.
For the first few weeks we (and the doctors), while optimistic, knew not what level of recovery he might achieve. Since starting rehabilitation a few days ago, the progress he has made physically is nearly matching his sharp mental acuity.
Again, he wants to thank everyone for all the cards, flowers, and well wishes — even from those with whom he has disagreed in the past. The outpouring of offers of support are overwhelming. Your generosity may be called upon in the future, but rest assured he is well taken care of at the moment.
At this point he is expected to be in rehab (we keep asking whether he’s met Britney yet) for another couple of weeks. So, while he is not quite up to resuming his role here as “Urban Arbiter,” he may be posting here sooner than any of us expected. Until then, more guest editorials are lined up to keep the discussion of positive change in St. Louis going. Ya’ll come back now, ya hear?
This update is being posted by Steve’s friends.
As many of you have heard, Steve experienced a stroke on February 1. He is making progress in his recovery, but he may not be able to post here for some time. We’ll provide updates as appropriate and according to his wishes; at the same time, we all hope that he will be publishing here again himself, sooner than later.
Please post your greetings and best wishes for Steve below, and we will make sure he receives them. He greatly appreciates the outpouring of well wishes many of you have already sent.
If you would like to send a card to lift his spirits just mail it to his office and we’ll get it right to him:
Circa Properties, Inc.
C/O Steven L. Patterson
4507 S. Kingshighway Blvd.
Saint Louis, MO 63109
Sincerely,
Steve’s Friends
PS Keep checking back for guest editorials to keep the urban discussions rolling.
When I started this blog it was simply a way to journal my numerous opinions. I had no real expectations. However, the feedback I’ve received has been great and unexpected.
“Steve Patterson’s blog Urban Review of St. Louis is a great addition to the ever-growing sea of St. Louis blogs. His writing is trenchant and unflinching, and he covers things that we can only wish to have time and energy to cover.”
Michael Allen, Ecology of Absence website and blog
This is wonderful praise given the depth Michael and Claire Nowak-Boyd’s writing on both the website and blog. Check them out!
“Glad to see you’re blogging intelligently on these issues.”
James Howard Kunstler
Kunstler is one of the leading authors on urbanity starting with the now classic “Geography of Nowhere” followed by “Home From Nowhere” and most recently “The City in Mind: Notes on the Urban Condition.” If you are like me and you can’t get enough of Kunstler’s witty writing you’ll want to check out his blog which is called “Clusterfuck Nation Chronicle.” If you know Kunstler’s writing you’ll understand the title. Another reason I check out his site if the monthly features known as “Architectural Blunders” – a photographic look at examples of a Clusterfuck Nation. I highly recommend his books – in the order listed above. Most libraries have them as do most bookstores. In the meantime, check out his website.
Today I was making a mix CD for a friend and I listened closer to John Mellencamp’s 2001 song Peaceful World. Certainly a peaceful world would be nice. Below is an excerpt from from the lyrics:
Racism lives in the U.S. today
Better get hip to what Martin Luther King had to say
I don’t want my kids being brought up this way
Hatred to each other is not okay
Well I’m not a preacher just a singer son
But I can see more work to be done
It’s what you do and not what you say
If you’re not part of the future then get out of the way
These words ring very true at this time and apply to many things from my personal life, to St. Louis, to the nation and world.
“It’s what you do and not what you say.”
Wow, so true.
To all you St. Louis “leaders” and the religious zealots out there:
You are not part of my future. Get the fuck out of my way!
