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Ben Stein's Diary
Too Much Illness
Life can be so busy and good — and then suddenly sad.
Thursday
Here I am in
Houston, Texas. My wife came with me. I am speaking to some finance
people at the Omni Hotel. Now, this is a really, really nice hotel.
Huge rooms. Architecturally unique and intriguing lobby. As good a
hotel café as I have ever enjoyed. I love it here.
The only bad part is that I have a lung pain that is like a knife going right through my left lung. I will just stay in bed as much as I can, go speak, then sleep more. I don’t want to take endless antibiotics. I worry that we humans cannot rely on them any longer because the bacteria have outsmarted everything. Maybe my own body, pitiful as it is, can learn to deal with the infection.
Now, I am going to change verb tenses. Be prepared.
I slept until late afternoon, went down to a fascinating, incredibly interesting presentation by various experts on the economy, and then I spoke. The crowd was fantastic. Smart. Alert. Great. I spent a long time talking with them after my speech. Extremely friendly people. Just great people.
Then, to sleep, perchance to recover.
Friday
Miracle. I feel
a lot better. Alex (wifey) and I went off to IAH and waited for a
long time to board our tiny little plane to Midland. It was
infernally hot on that plane. The air conditioning was broken. So
we were ushered off the plane. We waited for three hours for
Continental to find us another plane, which they finally did, and
off we went to Midland.
We are visiting a friend who does not feel well. We spent a long time with her, enjoying food sent over from the Odessa Country Club. The food was fantastic and our friend looked much better than we were expecting, so we were happy.
Then, back to our hotel. We stopped for sodas at a 7-Eleven, where your servant was overwhelmed by people wanting photos with me. It was scary, my favorite word.
The hotel, a Hilton, was Spartan but friendly. Prayer. Then.… Sleep, sleep, sleep. My lungs still ache.
Saturday
Back to visit
our pal, her niece, and her daughter and more leftovers from the
Odessa CC. Again, the food was fabulous.
Then a short flight to DFW. The Midland/Odessa airport may be the best one in the country. A very kindly policeman brought my wife and me each a Diet Coke, free, just to be friendly. That will NEVER happen at LAX. What a great guy. I love Texas.
At DFW, a stunningly beautiful young woman from American Airlines, a Miss Saori, greeted me and Alex and took us to our next gate on a little cart. Usually I am greeted by Sherry, my fave, but she was off duty that evening.
Then, a short, fast flight to LAX, with me sleeping the whole way. My whole life is a preparation for endless sleep. I fall asleep praising God for His gifts to me, which are beyond measure. The first and prime gift is wifey. I am so happy she is traveling with me, there are no words to describe it. She is incredibly easy going and makes every destination a resort.
Then, home to our dogs and mountains, literal mountains, of bills. MOUNTAINS. I obviously cannot keep up this insane burden much longer. I could do it when I was young. I am not young any longer. I am now in slow, pitiful Napoleon’s retreat from Moscow-mode, retreat from youth — middle age — mode.
I have to move into a small home somewhere and stop all of this travel, even if it is sleep travel.
About the Author
Ben Stein is a writer, actor, economist, and lawyer living in Beverly Hills and Malibu. He writes “Ben Stein’s Diary” for every issue of The American Spectator.
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SonOfSam| 6.9.11 @ 8:38AM
As someone who narrowly survived hospitalized bouts of childhood pneumonia, I can most definitely empathize with you Mr. Stein
Claypoole| 6.9.11 @ 9:44AM
A suggestion: Everyone, talk to your doctor about the vaccine for pneumonia. It's a one-time shot, and I don't know if it will protect against any and all types of pneumonia--will have to talk to my doc about that--but it will certainly give you an edge if you need it.
Cosmo| 6.10.11 @ 3:30AM
We love you, Ben.
Tomas| 6.9.11 @ 5:15PM
A colleague of mine - a gal in her early 40s - gave birth to her fourth child. An easy birth, a beautiful baby. Five days later she had an aneurysm, and subsequently a stroke. Her health was excellent; no one saw it coming.
She was kept in an induced coma for four days. She is currently in the neurology ICU, battling the effects of the stroke. She can see what's going on around her, but she cannot perceive it clearly, nor can she communicate.
Tell the people you love "I love you" now. You may not have a chance tomorrow.
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House of flowers | 6.9.11 @ 10:10AM
Get vaccinated!!! I had the worst case of pneumonia when I was 10. When my kids were old enough, this was the first thing to do on the health list.
Roy Allen| 6.9.11 @ 10:32AM
When I read the indominatable Mr. Stein's articles I feel as though I can actually see what he is writing of. Get well Ben. My prayers are with you.
Lori | 6.9.11 @ 2:11PM
While I cannot relate to Dr. Stein's whirlwind schedule & multiple properties, I can not just relate but also identify with the headline & subject. I have a trifecta of arthritic maladies and a somewhat weak immune system. Too much illness. One third to one half of each of my last six years I have been ill. Last year I got pneumonia for the first time ever (I'm 46) and it floored me. And it never really goes away. I've never gotten the vaccine for it. I'm a bit paranoid about vaccines. But I forgot about the pneumonia vaccine, and I may reconsider. Too much illness is depressing.
Feel better Dr. Stein, and take care of yourself. Texas loves you, too & you'll want to come back for another visit.
Lori
Houston, TX
JP| 6.9.11 @ 3:45PM
I hope you get better. I lived in Texas for 2 years and I couldn't take the never ending heat and humidity. Perhaps its time you moved north where it isn't so damn hot!
podbaydoors| 6.9.11 @ 2:22PM
A little illness can remind us of the evanescent nature of our all too brief lives. I have often been reminded of how nice it feels not to be sick whenever I have shaken off some malady. Try to enjoy even the sick days.
Jbb| 6.9.11 @ 2:50PM
I love your writing and I loved "Win Ben Stein's Money"!
Be careful please. Pain like that can also indicate a PULMONARY EMBOLISM. I had a little chest pain once and lo and behold...blood clot in the lung! Take care. I hope home brings you peace.
Gretchen| 6.9.11 @ 5:30PM
When I read the description of the pain in your lung, my first thought was: "Oh God, I hope it's not a pulmonary embolism!" My Dad had one -- it's NOTHING to ignore or otherwise mess around with. I hope you DID, finally, go see your doctor.
All the best,
Your Dad's former secretary.
Strudwick Wickerwire| 6.9.11 @ 3:53PM
Ren Martinez is alive and well, simply Google her name, her performances are ubiquitous and quite good. She covers a song "Before It Breaks," listen...
BarbInFL| 6.9.11 @ 4:09PM
Please, please, please take care of yourself. Lung pain is not fun and up to no good. Praying for your full recovery. As a good friend says often, "getting old is not for sissies!" Love your diary!
Love| 6.9.11 @ 5:52PM
You don't know me, or most of us here in cyberspace but nevertheless I am praying for you, sir.
Remember that God loves you, and He will never forsake you.
Abide in Him and in His love, and that's how you'll be able to cope and to get through this.
And just a little thing that I know from experience concerning your lungs, is that when you lie down, try to not lie down flat but propped up well, it's so that the fluid doesn't gather in your lungs. Also, do take lots of vitamin C. Try Emergen-C. It comes in flavors that you stir into your water and delivers a good healing dose to your immune system. It really truly does help to get you better.
Also~ I know because my lungs are waker and susceptible to infection~ try taking pro-biotics a few times a day. It increases the good bacteria in your body and lungs and reduces the bad bacteria. Ask your M.D, of course if it will interfere with any meds you are taking, but these things are wonderful helpers to the immune system.
May God bless you and keep you.
weddingdresses | 6.10.11 @ 2:00AM
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weddingdresses | 6.13.11 @ 2:50AM
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insanity | 6.13.11 @ 10:54AM
nice post
pat harwin| 6.13.11 @ 7:57PM
People, the pneumonia vaccine only protects against one type of the disease! I got the shot and 3-4 years later spent 12 days in ICU with a type of pneumonia they could not diagnose for days, and am just now (1 1/2 years later) able to breathe completely normally. Do not count on the vaccine to ensure you'll never get pneumonia, as I did. Wash your hands a lot, use antibiotic gel, and stay out of crowds - and even then you're not completely safe.
weddingdresses | 6.27.11 @ 4:59AM
People, the pneumonia vaccine only protects against one type of the disease! I got the shot and 3-4 years later spent 12 days in ICU with a type of pneumonia they could not diagnose for days, and am just now (1 1/2 years later) able to breathe completely normally. Do not count on the vaccine to ensure you'll never get pneumonia, as I did. Wash your hands a lot, use antibiotic gel, and stay out of crowds - and even then you're not completely safe.