Month: February 2025

Six Months Later

/ Rich Wilkins / Leave a comment

Six months ago right now I was laying in the ICU, having just lost half my foot and fighting an infection in my blood that was an immediate threat to my continued existence. That I was closer to death that day than I have ever been at any other moment in my life can almost get lost in the shuffle now. Today I got up, had some coffee while my cousin and his fiancée visited, then went to the chiropractor, visited my grandparents grave, drove around a bit, and took myself out for lunch. I can walk on my new leg, even hands free. I can drive and come and go as I please. My life is not, and will never again be totally “normal,” but it is trending back that way. I’ll soon return to the gym. I’m making travel plans. You could be forgiven at this point if you forget how close to the other side I was six months ago, it would be fair to say that life has begun to move on. For all things a season, and maybe very soon a new one for me.

Try as I might though, I’m changed by it. Maybe it was the weeks in the hospital bed, alone with my thoughts. The dark thoughts of how close I was to a funeral, and the pondering of who would of been there. There was also the beauty of watching the sun rise over the crosses on tops of buildings in Allentown’s East Side. There was the hours of putting on my headphones and listening to my favorite songs, and how some of them have taken on a different meaning to me now. All I had time to do was think. What and who I found important after hasn’t been the same since.

I’m recovering, and you should view me that way. I’m not quite the same though. I still don’t go out and go to places the way I used to, and only part of that is from physical challenges. I’m just changed by it. In no small way, I find my former self disinteresting. I find important parts of my life feeling trivial. I’m largely unconcerned now, but not in a bad way. I guess something like this just changes how you view people in your life. It definitely has for me, for better or for worse. You don’t just go back to how things were, even as you heal. To do so would almost feel like a betrayal of what was done for you. It would be to sell short the perspective you have been gifted with now.

I’m lucky. Modern science and medicine is amazing, and I’m grateful for it. The doctors, nurses, and techs who took care of me are true miracle workers. One of these days I’ll see the pathway and realize why they did it.

A Wimpy Resistance

/ Rich Wilkins / Leave a comment

“This is not who we are.” During Trump’s first term as President this was the standard position of Democrats and lefties of all stripes. There was at least some argument for that position then- while Trump had been elected in 2016, it seemed more like an unlikely error than the judgment of the people. After all, he had only received 46% of the vote, and Hillary Clinton had more votes than him. No one can claim that now. Joe Biden’s attempt at normalcy was basically rejected by the public. Trump won again. This time he won the popular vote too. And he has a supportive Congress. It can’t be argued now- the public wants to disrupt the status quo. They don’t mind the “mean tweets” and nastiness. They’re for this.

Oh I know the refrains. “What about egg prices,” and other mocking statements. It is sort of true. Trump made mildly aggressive statements about Gaza and Ukraine, said provocative but limited things about federal employees, and generally focused on what was “wrong” in Biden’s America. So sure, in theory he’s now overstating his mandate. Let’s not pretend he didn’t say he would be chaos. He did say he would overturn Washington’s “status quo.” He promised to be a hurricane. He is.

Democrats are simply unable to respond. Congressional Democrats can’t stop anything. State Democrats have extremely limited ability to stand in the way. Rallies and protests often come off looking more silly than strong. Unlike 2017, people aren’t rallying to the cause. The Democratic Party is the least popular it has been in a generation plus. Further left elements are less popular yet. They all lack the credibility with the public to attack. People aren’t taking them seriously.

Trump promised to hurt the people who oppose him. He’s carrying through on it. Unfortunately we may have to see ourselves through some of this mess before there is a public will to stop it.

We’re Here to Ruin Andy, Patrick, Brittany, Travis, and Taylor’s Party- Philly’s Version

/ Rich Wilkins / Leave a comment

It’s Super Bowl Sunday in America, arguably the biggest secular holiday in America. You know all the storylines already. The Chiefs chasing an unprecedented third straight title. The Eagles going for revenge. Travis probably proposing to Taylor as the confetti falls after a questionable officiating call decides the game. Kendrick Lamar publicly executing Drake’s career during the halftime show. And of course the ads. All the ads.

When the Eagles are in the Super Bowl, the game becomes somewhat of a religious day of obligation across Philadelphia, South Jersey, The Delaware Valley, The Lehigh Valley, Delaware, and Northeast Maryland. Philadelphia is just a different place. Is it better? I won’t go there. Bills Mafia is amazing. Boston during a Yankees series is unique. Sundays in Pittsburgh are special. If you watch old videos from when Washington played in the East Side, you get them. Wrigley is a holy experience. Our friends down 95 in Baltimore put on a show. And yeah, while I hate the Queens fans, the Mets fan base is a blue collar crew. Even so, Philadelphia is different. The Eagles are definitely their own experience.

If you grew up around here, you heard the stories about the great wins, but you suffered through way more terrible losses. For as happy as February of 2018 or October of 2008 were, you earned it ten fold in heartbreak. Joe Carter. Spygate. Kobe and Shaq. Some kid from Millersville robbing Realmuto in the gap. A ticky-tack defensive holding ending Super Bowl 57. Scott Stevens. Fog Bowl. The 1987 Stanley Cup Final. All four of Andy’s NFC Title losses. We grow up together in Philly country learning to appreciate the highs, because we get plenty of lows. It’s the shared experience. We earn those wins.

America seems to be tired of Kansas City now, and I don’t blame them. It wasn’t long ago I was living in Omaha, and spent Super Bowl 54 in a Western Iowa casino. I took San Francisco mostly out of my spite for Reid, so when they went up a couple of scores, I started taunting the people around me who had been real loud. One of them, in an old worn down Chiefs coat replied to me, “of course we’re going to lose, we never win.” I immediately got that dude a drink. They suffered long and hard for this run. Nothing personal folks, you’re a great Midwest fanbase, but America is counting on us to save them from Travis and Taylor on a loop for the next month.

It’s time. The franchise that beat Lombardi and Brady for titles takes aim at Reid and Mahomes tonight. I’m ready for Philly-Philly.

Go. Motha’. Fucking. Birds.