First Cup April 9, 2006
So by now some of you have heard about my fall. For those who have not, the details:
Last Saturday night, I was out in Port Costa. I don't really expect anyone to know where that is, but let's just say that it's out in the middle of nowhere. But at this middle of nowhere destination is a bar and attached to the bar is a hotel. So for the second year in a row, my dear friend Nadja celebrated her birthday with several friends, most of whom had the plan to get drunk and then to fall asleep in the hotel so that they wouldn't have to drive.
This was my plan too.
Only sometime after I stumbled into my third story room early Sunday morning, I opened up a window, and fell out of it. As best we can put together, I fell almost thirty feet, bounced off of a metal planter box, and then onto a brick pathway.
I have no memory of this.
Luckily, someone saw me fall and called the paramedics. This is amazing considering it was dark and that where I fell is somewhat obscured from the parking lot. I was awoken by the paramedics telling me not to move, to hold still. I caught one of their names, a woman I think, and told her that they couldn't take me, that I couldn't afford to be taken to the hospital. They asked me questions and ignored my pleas. I was, by their estimations, too intoxicated to make these decisions for myself.
The ambulance whisked me away to someplace, where I was loaded onto a helicopter. In the helicopter, I kept shouting to the medic, "I can't afford this! I'm totally screwed!" He of course, ignored me.
Then to the emergency room where my clothes were cut off and I was looked at by doctors and technicians. I told them the same story, they gave me looks that said, "This is out of our hands."
After some scans and rays, I was told that my back was broken. I was scared. I knew I could wiggle my toes so i knew it wasn't my spinal cord, but still. They said that I shouldn't need surgery, only a brace. That I could live with.
In the hospital, in a bed, hours later, I started to make phone calls, informing all of my loved ones that I had fallen and injured myself, but that everything is ok. Everything wiggles. I'm alive, I'll walk, I'll still be able to drink coffee.
This photo was taken around 3:15 in th afternoon, less than twelve hours after the fall. Will was gracious enough to catch me and my first cup. I was hoping to leave the hospital, but they needed to run more tests.
Here's to not being dead. Cheers you guys.
Comments and faves
Tobie2 (75 months ago | reply)
Lucky!
ellyjonez (75 months ago | reply)
jeez. i am glad you are okay.
espressoDOM (75 months ago | reply)
wow ... now that's a drinkin' story my friend.... FEEL BETTER (my prayers are with ya)
Bradley Allen (75 months ago | reply)
Bloody HELL! Glad to hear that you seem to be pulling through. Take care, dude.
verymiao (75 months ago | reply)
Arno told us today, though he didn't have many details and we were so worried! I'm so glad you're alive and able to wiggle all the wiggly parts - even posting your first cup! You are a legend! Steve and I are thinking of you, mate.
Hotash (75 months ago | reply)
GOOD GRIEF...
You are one very lucky guy & pretty brave to kick-down the story...reminding us all to be humble ~smile~
AND
Even for a small town girl...
I know exactly where this is!
What a cool little town-very hidden!
I have been to this very bar!(only I didn't drink-I was way too cool for that at the time-I'm over it now).
If I remember right there is only one bar...
My parents made me go with them to their 20th high school reunion in 1990-a good friend of theirs was living in Port Costa at the time.
Fun was had by all...oh yeah, I was only 19 at the time ~smile~
Heal well.
Spinnaker007 (75 months ago | reply)
Dang, I don't even want to visualize the nasty fall.
Dom is right, this will be a drinking story to tell in the years to come...
Get well soon.
Rockies (75 months ago | reply)
Wow! Way to cheat death.
Hope the coffee helps your recovery and everything works out OK.
jessecarlson (75 months ago | reply)
Ouch...glad you're ok bud. Good luck with the healing.
Oh, and drinking is bad for you :)
Brett L. added this photo to his favorites. (75 months ago)
red8nccc (75 months ago | reply)
Sorry to hear about your accident -- so glad to hear you are alive. Anna and I will be thinking about you and wishing you well.
soytyka (75 months ago | reply)
Hey Steve, I am so glad you are okay. I hope your recovery goes smoothly.
KyleGlanville (75 months ago | reply)
You are a lucky man. Let me know how I can help (I have a little free time now, after all)
peter_r (75 months ago | reply)
yikes! obviously, glad to hear you can wiggle. i think i have actually been to this bar...is it the one with the big polar bear? www.flickr.com/photos/yableka/111238857/in/se t-7205759408...
anyway, what ever happened with the insurance situation? where is the "donate $$ to fund steve's back brace so he can get better quick and resume taking pretty pictures of coffee for all of us" website?
Pe_tah (75 months ago | reply)
jesus christ, im glad you are okay
dogmilque (75 months ago | reply)
Wow! Thanks y'all.
Chris&Tiff added this photo to their favorites. (75 months ago)
etonLAcoffee (75 months ago | reply)
best of luck to ya... get better soon we need you coffee mann
faerygrrrl (75 months ago | reply)
good luck! eeeks!
hope you get back to the bean grinding soon
tonx added this photo to their favorites. (75 months ago)
reebob (75 months ago | reply)
ack! thinking of you here in bklyn!
BeMyErinMeister (75 months ago | reply)
Good lord, I'm glad you're all right! Take it easy, man!
nadja.robot (75 months ago | reply)
Steve-o, I can't believe you haven't missed a day on your project. You're quite a guy.
jazzlurman (75 months ago | reply)
And I just had to tell Jesse.. "If your friends jumped off a bridge, would you do it too?" speech. Do I have to give you a lecture too? I'll give you a call soon, let me know when I can buddy.
mynameisrage added this photo to his favorites. (75 months ago)
jaminsky (75 months ago | reply)
I dont even know what to say, in reality you're just basically my favorite barista ever, we're not really close friends or anything, but this was really scary just to read. Really glad you're alive man.
-ben
p.s. first cup in the hospital...genius
mantella (75 months ago | reply)
all I can say is that I hope you're going to just stick to drinking only coffee from now on. hope you recover quickly.
shawmachine (75 months ago | reply)
My brother Adam just told me that the chances of death are 50% when you fall from above 20 feet...so very glad you are okay.
dogmilque (75 months ago | reply)
It's funny, ever since the fall people have been telling me statistics about falls, or stories about people who they know who fell and died. I think it's supposed to make me feel better.
peter_r added this photo to his favorites. (75 months ago)
Simpa Networks (75 months ago | reply)
Steve,
Small world story for you - a friend of mine recently visited Blue Bottle and told me about you. Small world, because I too took a freaksih 3rd story fall out of a window in late Jan. Was lucky like you in that all my breaks (ankle, hip, back, neck, arms, skull) have and/or are healing and I'm back in action just three months in. So don't get discouraged early on - it's quite a journey of healing, but sounds like you've got plenty of verve, humor and will to get through this. Got a bunch of friends coming this Sunday to Blue Bottle to toast your recovery. Keep up the healing.
Cheers - Mike
RitualEileen (74 months ago | reply)
Try not to hold it against Steve that he looks like a movie star playing ill after falling three storeys.
Here's how to help:
www.coffeegeek.com/forums/worldregional/uswes t/229997
Can't wait to see you roasting again, buddy.
quasistoic and M Domondon added this photo to their favorites.
M Domondon (72 months ago | reply)
cheers
jaminsky and corydoras added this photo to their favorites.
WAISTLINE (63 months ago | reply)
You're the fellow that fell out the window- you were the talk of the town!
JudsonK, jenkiesvelma, Poletti, and lisasutt added this photo to their favorites.