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General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: Bill Hagan on July 26, 2015, 08:49:27 AM
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Got a text in this morning from (Dr.) Cathy, Cam's wife.
In that and follow-on exchanges, learned that Cam had gone riding yesterday with his 15-YO son Jack as pillion. Assume Cam was on his RT.
About an hour from his house -- near Helena, Montana -- Cam hit a mountain goat!
Assume something like this:
(http://gothunts.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/mountain-goat.jpg)
As with many creatures, attractive animals ... unless occupying the roadway in front of you. :cry:
Jack sustained only some road rash on his hip; young people seem to bounce better than their elders!
Cam, however, fared worse.
He was airlifted to Great Falls and is in ICU, with six rib fractures, a collapsed lung, comminuted fractures of his collar bone and shoulder blade.
His condition is "stable," and is probably going to have surgery today to knit some of the bones together.
According to Cathy, Cam has no memory of the accident, but otherwise seems not to have sustained any major neurological injury. In fact, Cathy said that Cam is "making politically incorrect jokes between moans and hits on the morphine pump." :laugh:
Seriously, tho, according to Cathy, Cam is almost unable to move at all and even breathes with difficulty and with pain.
Many of here have had broken ribs and thus can imagine how excruciatingly painful such can be, and, worse, that is in conjunction with his other injuries.
I will post developments as I get them from his "personal physician."
Bill
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Let's all pray for a full and speedy recovery.
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Thanks for the notice Bill. Well, we know who wins when one old goat hits another. :grin: :wink: Having broken ribs twice before I"fell his pain". I'm glad the prognosis is good, if painful for a while. Please keep up informed and update. Our best and most fervent prayers for he and his son's full recovery.
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Hi Bill,
please convey my "Get Well Wishes" to Cam and Jack.
Nick
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Dang that. We saw several in the San Juans of SW Colorado a few weeks back. They climb down to the road to lick salt from cracks in the road left over from the winter de-icing. Fast critters. Hope everyone heals up.
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My best wishes for quick and complete recovery to Cam.
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Sorry to hear this as Cam is one nice gent. He has helped many people with critter problems in a detailed account.
I have is old white Cal EV with Swanee faring. It is the one I rode to the national in John Day.
Here's wishing a speedy recovery.
Tex
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Hi Bill,
please convey my "Get Well Wishes" to Cam and Jack.
Nick
Me Too.
Visited with him when he was at Clemson, still remember that ride to Luap's Rally.
Dean
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When you smack your head you usually don't remember the accident. Good thing he had a helmet on or I'm sure he'd be dead now. :bow: Was the goat hurt? :undecided: Never have broken any ribs but cracked ribs hurt bad enough and take longer to heal. :cry:
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Dang that is rough. I have threaded the needle through a group of bighorn standing in the middle of HWY200 over between Greenough and Missoula.. talk about a 'clenching' moment.. those guys are fearless of cars.
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Dang that is rough. I have threaded the needle through a group of bighorn standing in the middle of HWY200 over between Greenough and Missoula.. talk about a 'clenching' moment.. those guys are fearless of cars.
Bighorn sheep are about the only animals I haven't encountered on a road yet. :popcorn: (deer, elk, bear, bull, mountain lion, herd of sheep, squirrels, armadillo, turtle, possum, snakes, dogs. ducks)
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Damn! Ribs take forever to heal; making getting about a pain. My collar bone took forever to patch but was otherwise a very minor side show. Shoulder blades; can't be good. I feel for the guy. Come Christmas he should be pretty well mended; but if he plays his cards right, can avoid snow shoveling this season.
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Sorry to hear this. Pass on well wishes to Cam and family.
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This just in. Riding a motorcycle is dangerous. We all share the very same possibility, but choose to ignore it. There's a *lot* of denial in riding.. Cam drew the short straw.
Best wishes for healing fast and well, Cam. Get back on that sucker.
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This just in. Riding a motorcycle is dangerous. We all share the very same possibility, but choose to ignore it. There's a *lot* of denial in riding.. Cam drew the short straw.
Best wishes for healing fast and well, Cam. Get back on that sucker.
Yes, it's dangerous.
But, not sure I entirely agree that most of us "ignore" it.
I think -- or prefer to think :wink: -- that we consider it, make a risk-benefits analysis, and decide that riding is the right choice.
Works for me. OK, most of the time. Besides, chicks dig scars. :laugh:
Cam will have a few (more) of those now, but suspect he'll ride again because of what it does for those of us who choose to do so, even if occasionally to us.
Bill
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Yes, it's dangerous.
But, not sure I entirely agree that most of us "ignore" it.
I think -- or prefer to think :wink: -- that we consider it, make a risk-benefits analysis, and decide that riding is the right choice.
Works for me. OK, most of the time. Besides, chicks dig scars. :laugh:
Cam will have a few (more) of those now, but suspect he'll ride again because of what it does for those of us who choose to do so, even if occasionally to us.
Bill
Naa. Denial. :azn: Won't happen to me.. Your argument is well thought out, Councillor, and I agree to a point. :wink:
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I would have expected it to happen via some huge mutant flying beetle set on revenge.
Don't laugh, Cam. It hurts when you laugh. And speedy recovery!
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Heal up, Cam!
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A few more ribs and broken bones and that could have been a description of me in 2009 when I hit the deer. Some of you even visited me at Harborview. Without the morphine it's no fun at all. And I don't remember my crash either, or the next 3 1/2 days. Cam I empathize with you as I have been there myself. You probably padded the impact for your boy so your pain is not a futile sacrifice. Your recovery will be long and boring watching the summer go by from a window. Take comfort knowing than many of us have been there, and felt that, and are still above ground and riding again.
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Heal well and fast, Cam. With broken ribs, stay away from people who make you laugh--funny turns painful in a flash.
Glad to hear that your son wasn't badly injured.
Rich A
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Best wishes for a speedy recovery. Dang critters!
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Cam,
Best wishes for a speedy and full recovery! There but for the grace of God, so to speak, go any of us. I'm glad you're not more badly injured, and that your son escaped the worst. Keep your chin up.
Moto
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I suppose everyone knows this already, but it took me awhile to figure it out. We're talking about Cam Lay, not Cam 3512, yes?
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It only laughs when you hurt.
With your kind of injuries, sneezing, coughing, and laughing are all off the menu.
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Yeah, that's gotta hurt. All the best Cam, heal fast and heal well.
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Best wishes for a speedy recovery Cam. Critters can be a pain, literally.
John Henry
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I've broken bread with the man and he's a valuable unit.
If he's cracking non PC jokes with the nurses he can't be all that bad. Gimme an address and I'll get a big rubber sex aid delivered to him. That always helps interactions with nursing staff. :evil:
Pete
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What? A rubber chicken?
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What? A rubber chicken?
What a revolting idea! My relationship with the chickens is entirely platonic! What sort of disgusting, warped mind have you got! :grin:
Pete
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I'm appalled by the cruelty this thread has taken. Cam has broken ribs and is not supposed to laugh! :smiley:
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I'm appalled by the cruelty this thread has taken. Cam has broken ribs and is not supposed to laugh! :smiley:
It's OK; he's got a little button to push whenever it hurts. :evil:
OTOH, there is a bit of flash-to-bang delay so he has to be a bit preemptive. :wink:
Seriously, he is hurting, and hasn't "been here" (yet).
I'll warn him. :angel:
Bill
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We wil be praying fow a speedy recovery.
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Our prayers added for a speedy, complete recovery. JW and ML
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To show our sensitive side we could start a joke thread. :evil:
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As someone I forget once said: "You can't show your sensitive side when you're seated."
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Very sorry to hear this, poor old goat. :wink: Heal well Cam.
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Ouch. And Cam is an ATGATT guy too. At least he used to be.
I broke six ribs in 2000 on a slow low side. I feel your pain Cam.
Get well soon!
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Sorry to hear about Cam, get well soon buddy.
Phil
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Here's hoping you heal quickly and thoroughly! I've been whacked on my bike before and it kinda sucks.
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Heal quickly. I've been there and it is no fun. Just don't laugh or take a deep breath.
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Get Well soon Cam, first couple weeks are no fun. I had same injuries in 04 from a crash.
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Cam's a class act. Thoughts and wishes for a speedy recovery!
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Any updates?
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Any updates?
Thanks for the reminder; will get asap.
Got a few texts in from Cam, who has not yet been able be here himself, tho I'll think he'll be pleased to see the outpouring of support. I told him that several posts will require "pushing the button" or laughing will make him feel as if he were Adam and God was getting ready to make multiple Eves! [Emoticon failure again?]
Anyway, I will send pix of his motorcycle, too.
Jack is, as mentioned, fine, with no follow-on concerns.
Bill
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What a revolting idea! My relationship with the chickens is entirely platonic! What sort of disgusting, warped mind have you got! :grin:
Pete
Great minds run in the same gutters.
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Just got off the phone with Cam.
Cathy was there to ensure I didn't wear him out, and I can understand why: Cam can sure talk for a guy with one lung, tho he was clearly fading by the time we ended the chat.
He is clearly a "broken" man, in the sense of many severe fractures that will take a very long -- and painful -- time to heal.
First, here are two "after" pix of Cam's RT.
(https://bill-and-kathi.smugmug.com/photos/i-xcRWm65/0/L/i-xcRWm65-L.jpg)
(https://bill-and-kathi.smugmug.com/photos/i-pT6Xk67/0/L/i-pT6Xk67-L.jpg)
Interesting to see damage on both sides. That was not, as I had supposed, i.e., the result of retrieving the bike for the tow-truck ride into town. Cam doesn't yet remember what happened, and may never recall it, but Jack told Cam that one moment they were riding along enjoying the experience when BANG he (Jack) was sliding along on the pavement while watching the RT cartwheel down the road.
Cam says that this is the only set of controls he cares about just now.
(https://bill-and-kathi.smugmug.com/photos/i-WtMLSJB/0/L/i-WtMLSJB-L.jpg)
The accident occurred on Old U.S. 91, south of Cascade, Mont., and north of Tower Rock State Park, near here: 47.203750, -111.780528
Oh, and it wasn't a goat. It was a Bighorn Sheep, a beast just reintroduced into the area.
(http://www.donaldmjones.com/data/photos/2077_1bighorn_sheep03956d.jpg)
The sheep was, btw, dead at the scene.
Cam was knocked unconscious and did not recover until in flight to Great Falls on the medivac helo where he -- Cam was always a bright lad -- realized that "something had gone wrong." His first question when told about the wreck by the flight EMS team was about Jack. You can imagine his relief when he learned that Jack had walked away.
Two points about that.
The state trooper told Cam in the ICU that there had been six motorcycle accidents that weekend. Only Cam and Jack had been wearing ATGATT, and only Jack had walked away from the wreck.
And, Jack found his dad lying unconscious face-down in a "deadman's sprawl." Can only imagine how that must have affected Jack, especially when he could not get Cam to come to, and then to see him "life-flighted" away.
Anyway, Cam has seen some of this thread, and will read it all as soon as he can.
He is concerned about his job (Cam is, among other titles, the State of Montana's apiary guy), and firewood (they go through 10 cords a winter), but also seemed to think all would be OK.
He said the thread would be all the cards and letters (or chickens!) he'd need but was touched by and grateful for all the support here. Talking is tiring and difficult for him, so Cathy, his wife, doctor, and gatekeeper asks for no calls for awhile. She'll update us as warranted.
Bill
[Edited to remove all those diamonds that appear when I compose in mail and paste here. Doh.]
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What a revolting idea! My relationship with the chickens is entirely platonic! What sort of disgusting, warped mind have you got! :grin:
Pete
It's not the chickens we worry about - it's those other weird critters you hang around with!
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Hitting a Big Horn is no small thing. Cam & his son are very lucky to have survived the hit because these sheep can weigh up to 300 pounds. Glad to hear that the son was not seriously injured and that Cam wasn't injured more seriously than he was. Get well, soon.
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It's not the chickens we worry about - it's those other weird critters you hang around with!Hold up there now, Friend. I take exception to that statement. Eeeeeeeeeeeehhhhh, maybenot.
Heal well, Cam.
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Alright, Cam's hurt. Buck up you jerks and give the guy a bit of space for recovery. Laughing hurts him .... get it?
So, for the record: those of us who are thankful we aren't laid up with broken ribs raise both hands.
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Thanks for the update, Bill. Wow.
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Bill,
Tell Cam to man up as I suffered more injuries than that when I hit a lounge lizard in San Antonio, TX :evil:
Tex
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Mr. Bill Hagan,
Any updates on our friend Cam?
Thanks,
Tex
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Mr. Bill Hagan,
Any updates on our friend Cam?
Thanks,
Tex
Thanks for the reminder, Ken.
Cam has no internet comnectivity at home as he lives in "serious country." In Montana, that's saying something.
Anyway, Cam made me promise not to post the last pic he sent -- a selfie on the ride home a few days ago. The combo of pain generally and self-inflicted by the photo-taking made for a visage that was hard to look at. :shocked:
He also claimed that Cathy was seeking out potholes and frost heaves for the fun of listening to Cam scream. :wink:
So, yes, he's home, but is on the long road back, where pain will subside eventually, just in time for boredom and worry to take over. At some point, too, suppose he'll go to the garage and look at the spine-frame LeMans and wonder when.
I'll see if I can get something more detailed, if needed, from him or Cathy in next day or so.
Best from the top of Virginia, where my only present pain is the knowledge that in a few short hours four grandbabies -- aged 8 and under -- will assault Iron Cross Junction and turn my my tranquil world upside-down! :cry: Would make Cam laugh, which might kill him!
Bill
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Glad to hear that he's getting better and "putting a good face on it" if I can say it that way.
"Bighorn Sheep" being "reintroduced" to the area. Probably going to be another stupid idea of bringing animals back where they no longer "belong", like wolves into suburbia. I can't imagine hitting one of those things .....
Lannis
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You're right. Bighorn sheep have no business in the Montana wilderness any more than wolves, bears, or deer do.
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You're right. Bighorn sheep have no business in the Montana wilderness any more than wolves, bears, or deer do.
Probably time for a brush-up on word definitions. If it was "wilderness", it wouldn't be "near Helena Montana" and there wouldn't be a paved highway with motorcycles on it running through it .... and if the bighorn sheep weren't there any more, there was a reason.
Lannis
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Time to brush up on geography. If you're claiming that wolves are being re-introduced to 'suburbia', then an hour in almost any direction of Helena is certainly 'wilderness'.
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Time to brush up on geography. If you're claiming that wolves are being re-introduced to 'suburbia', then an hour in almost any direction of Helena is certainly 'wilderness'.
In any case, when a wild animal in the road takes down one of my friends, especially an animal that wouldn't be there unless some idiot biologist had stuck him there, I'm in no mood to start hugging trees and joining PETA.
Lannis
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Bill said I was still pretty talkative even on one lung... This'll be short, since I'm also on one hand and still OCD about grammar and punctuation...
I'm a (slowly) walking collection of bruises, scabs, broken bones, and mild cognitive deficits. I was unconscious for 20-30 minutes, still remember nothing, and tend to ask the same questions over and over. The intake sheet from the helo crew notes that I did not know the day, year, my birthday, or what happened. Apparently I improved somewhat during the flight, enough to ask about Jack over and over. There are worse concerns, of course.
Jack seems entirely OK. He got off on the low side and slid, I stayed on long enough to high-side as the bike went into an airborne "BMW on a spit" rotation. There are lots of deep transverse gouges but very few along the long axis. Tumbled, not slid, to paraphrase that Bond guy... I came to a stop across the road from the home of an elderly retired surgeon who ran out and made everybody leave me alone until EMS got there. What a stroke of luck, except for Jack. He was reassured when they took one look and called the helicopter. "Nobody hurries for dead guys."
I do have a spiffy new cane, at least. Actually, it's my old cane from the last time this happened. And that brings us to risk. Known, quantifiable, estimable, unknown, and plain bad luck. If I thought it was unreasonable I wouldn't have had my kid on the back. Am I going to re-evaluate the benefit side of the equation once I feel like I can make a decision based on something other than physical pain? Absolutely.
Other observations, and then I have to go lie down.
1) Shoei makes a damn good helmet. Mine's DOT but not Snell, which means (I think) it's softer but not as good at absorbing multiple blows to the same spot. The whole left side is bashed and trashed, abrasions and fractures. There was enough energy there to knock me out for a long time, but it managed it properly. Yes, I know that all that has a big "under this specific set of circumstances" all over it.
2) MT Highway Patrol Trooper Dan Something-or-other found my glasses, took care of my kid until the ambulance got him, called my wife, sequestered and delivered all of my personal effects, and checked on me in the hospital after his shift.
3) ICU at Benefis Hospital in Great Falls is great. My plan is to visit them one more time, only, to drop off a bunch of honey after we harvest the bees this year.
4) I don't mind the sheep being there any more than I mind wolves and mountain lions and bears and all the other predators I share the immediate environs of my house with. They all have to be managed, in my opinion, but that is a discussion for another time.
The Goddess is here with my percoset. I gotta go.
Finally: thank you for all the kid thoughts and good words. I am moved to tears that I have managed to make such a good impression on such a gathering as we have here.
Take care,
C
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Any particular colour or shape of dildo you'd like Cam?
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Any particular colour or shape of dildo you'd like Cam?
:rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: He's not supposed to laugh Pete! :evil:
Aside, thanks for the update Cam. You are obviously in a state of improvement from your original position. All the best for your recovery. :thumb:
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I take his silence to suggest he wants the orange one with the glittery bits inside!
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Jesus, I'm glad I swallowed my coffee before I got to Pete's um, generous offer.
Best wishes again, Cam.
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Cam,
I am sorry to read this, just catching up on the forum after quick, infrequent visits for my own selfish reasons.
Very good thoughts on the gear that you were using and I am glad that you can analyze these things, a good sign.
That is quite an animal to encounter, as Bill said, better seen off the road. Pleased also that Jack is ok.
Do not try to over do it on the recovery, take it slow and steady, go lie down when you need to.
Heal well sir.
Best,
Rob
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Full marks for typing all that with one hand. Been there, done that, but not quite that good. Well done! :bow:
Back in Minnesota we'd hear about a moose taking out a biker or car on the road to Ely; seems like at least once a year. In AZ we have elk, they seem to pick on cars mostly. I fear deer mostly (more in number; especially in Minnesota). Oddly enough, the first time we've seen elk after seeing an elk crossing sign was in Oregon. They are big!
Dang, Pete's comment has me all rambling and I try to purge the imagery. :shocked:
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Cam Lay lives in Montana , Cam 3512 lives in New Jersey .
Dusty
Correctamundo. NOT me. We don't have bighorn sheep 'round these parts.
Get well Cam.
Cam
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Bill, thanks for the update.
Cam, don't worry about work or firewood. Your new full-time gig is healing up as quick as you can!!
Prayers and best wishes for a speedy FULL recovery!
JW and ML
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Glad to see you can type, however slow it may be. When it was my turn in the barrel I lay with the bed propped up and the mac in my lap. I would use my left hand to lift my right arm up to the computer to type. It was really slow especially when my bad hand would bump a button unintentionally and the page would disappear and I would have to start over. It would take me about twenty minutes to type something as long as this post.
Don't look at it as a disability, think of it as a challenge. Little victories raise morale.
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Good to see Cam. Perks will see ya through :thumb: the rest of this journey
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Sorry to hear about your getoff, but glad it wasn't worse. Wishing you a full and speedy recovery, and many, many more miles. :cool:
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It's good to hear some good news about what could have even been a worse situation. Get well soon.
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Cam,
Great to see that you can post, that is a vary encouraging sign. Man, what a ride! Don't know what else to say except hang in there and keep a positive attitude.
GliderJohn
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Just read the topic, Cam, so sorry to hear about your abrubpt ending to a beautiful day with your son. I'm very glad he is okay, and you are still with us, too!
In Germany I only have to dodge Audis, Porches and BMW's. Both kinds!
Heal up quick!
Tom
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Just got in an email from TomTom.
Think this explains what happened to Cam.
I see a lawsuit against a deep pocket, Cam. Call me. :grin:
http://tinyurl.com/Why-Cam-Crashed
Bill
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Just got in an email from TomTom.
Think this explains what happened to Cam.
I see a lawsuit against a deep pocket, Cam. Call me. :grin:
http://tinyurl.com/Why-Cam-Crashed
Bill
:thumb: