Tribute to Monty “Monkey”Hunter …

This was written by Austin B. a 14 year old ‘member’ of the department and Boy Scout Troop 77 which the department sponsors. Austin is a very intelligent and insightful young man and it is my honor to know him. He wrote this shortly after learning of Monkey’s passing.

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We are told life isn’t forever, but death is inescapable.
We are told friends come and go, but family is forever.
But what about those friends we consider family, are they to be forgotten?
The opening line of the Declaration of Independence opens with, “We hold these
truths to be self evident.” And if we don’t hold them we are blind.
Monty was a good friend and a member of this family.
We need to remember him not only as  a friend, but as a brother.
“These are the times that try a mans soul” was said by
George Washington to his men at Valley Forge. Death is the time, and
if we don’t overcome it, it will consume us.

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A brave young man that has had to see more death then any 14  year old should ever have to deal with.

Shalom,
JT

Rest in Peace “Monkey”

Monty Hunter aka “Monkey”, a brother with my fire department passed away last night. The details are still not known, but the detective’s preliminary investigation did not indicate foul play. He was a dear friend to me and all the brother and sisters here at the department. You could always count on him or call upon him at any time and he would be there for you.

You are missed my friend.

Free at last!

Charles is HOME !!

Whew! What a day!

Ok, Charles is doing great!  He is so excited about being given a date that he will be sent home. It was such a moral booster for him!

He said he even “slept in” this morning. One of his chief complaints since the second sedation in ICU has been his inability to get any sleep. Apparently, after 0500 vitals, he went back to sleep until breakfast was delivered at about 0730.

There are some modifications I need to do to the house so will be arranging for those to get done by Friday.

He will have a month of out patient rehab twice a week. He had  a choice of Health South or Conroe Regional, he chose Health South. We seem to remember Mom saying that she was pleased with them as that is where she rehab’d after both knee replacements.

He will need a wheelchair for when we go out, and a walker for around the house (and out) and a shower chair. Since we live in a manufactured house and the tub is not a standard size, I am taking measurements and seeing if the shower chair they want to sell him will work of if I need to customize one. I have Dennis’ old wheelchair so that is money saved, even though the insurance would pay for one, why spend the money? And my Dad is loaning Charles is walker so that is something else we don’t have to buy! I just need to go buy a new shower head for him so that he can sit and get his showers.

They are also discontinuing the dialysis completely! So long and the drugs keep helping him keep the fluids off, he will be good!

Now, as I mentioned in my last post, I think I have a job. It is with Pop-a-Lock here in The Woodlands/Conroe area. I friend of mine is a supervisor there and they were looking to replace one of their car door unlock techs .. so he asked me if I wanted it .. I interviewed with the owner today and I think I have the job.

Of the 90 minutes I was in the office, the first 10 was about the job, then 5 about going to training, and the rest was just BS!  Boy can he talk your ear off!

I will be strictly commission and respond to calls from where ever I am at. I just have to be within a certain area during my “on call” times. Not too bad I guess. I know my friend has been kept busy so I should be ok with it.

Anyway, time for me to get in and get some of the laundry folded .. since it is all over the bed!

Shalom,
JT

Good new and more good news!

1st is that Charles is coming home on Friday. He walked about 170 feet nonstop and has been recovering well since he has been in ReHab.

2nd is that I have a J-O-B. Albeit a commission based, but it will help a little.

Heading to Houston to see Charles .. so will update again later.

Shalom,
JT