So I promised myself I’d get back doing Cold Starts, at least, here in this fresh, brand-new, still-vacuum-sealed Year of Our Lard 2024, and so I am. I mean, sort of. I’m doing this one, and I hope to keep it up, but I’m not gonna lie – I still don’t feel exactly 100%. Mind if I kvetch a bit here? Sure, that’s how everyone wants to start the new year – listening to some dork whose aorta exploded gripe about things!
So, during surgery, there was a bit of unexpected nerve damage to whatever nerve-wires feed my right thigh. That means it’s weirdly numb save for shooting lightning bolts of pain that appear at unpredictable intervals. I hate it. It’s driving me bizzonkers, and it makes sleeping difficult. Even better, the doctors plan for it is to do, medically, fuck-all, since all you can do it wait it out, which they say will take months. Oh boy.
I’m also kind of achey all the time, which is to be expected, since I was cracked open like a delicious crab, and while I’m weaning off the pain meds, when I do give in and take them they make me feel nice and loopy, like last night, when I tried to explain to my wife something dreadfully important that also, somehow, had precisely zero words in English to describe whatever the hell it was, which I absolutely cannot remember. But I sure tried to explain it, just, you know, sans words.
I did not explain it.
I still get tired quicker than I want to. And I’m tired of being tired, tired of not being able to do the things I did like drive or pick up heacvy things or wrestle full-grown badgers into submission. And yet, I have to remind myself, that’s okay, I actually am recovering, and this is all part of the process.
I know. And I also know how thankful I am to be here, and for all of you, who have kept me going in some very real, non-metaphorical ways.
So, yes, I’m bitching. And I’m sick of my thigh feeling like it was caught fucking Zeus’ daughter. I’m sick of feeling cold and brittle. But it won’t last forever, and I’m so happy to be able to complain.
Oh, and that car up there is a 1924 Renault NN, one of the Renault “coal scuttle” cars that had the radiator behind the engine, with cooling air pulled into those gills on either side of the hood. These things only had a 951cc inline-4 making 17 hp – honestly pretty damn good for the era!
Happy to see you back around here! Please kvetch all you want and keep bringing the weird cars into our lives
Welcome back Torch!
Welcome back. I need you to live long enough so when we meet you can sign my copy of a book you wrote. Only then do you have my permission to depart this mortal coil.
I’ve been busy the past few weeks and have only had a chance to skim a few articles here and there and barely comment, so I’ll catch up here.
Torch, you’ve been one of my favorite automotive writers for years. I met you at the first Radwood LA show and at the time proclaimed to you that you were the only reason I still visited the German lighting site, and true to that statement I’ve never been back there since you left. The Autopian is the first automotive site I’ve ever actually spent money on, and you’re a major part of that.
So it was a shock to read about your heart condition, but true to form your article about your experience was one of the most captivating articles I’ve ever read. Between this and a friend of mine who very openly battled and eventually succumbed to cancer, it’s eye opening to know that you can easily be blindsided by health issues. So I’m very happy you’re still here and wish you the best in your recovery!
For what it’s worth, one of my best friends is high up in a very well known aftermarket performance exhaust / catalytic converter company and we were camping together in Death Valley over NYE weekend. I don’t remember what brought up the subject, but he started talking about the fake Cybertruck at the LA Auto Show and that eventually segued into him heaping praise on your site and mentioning that he has told multiple people in the industry that The Autopian is the best automotive site out there by far. He had no idea that I was a paying member (despite the Autopian logo sticker on the back of my truck), and I had no idea he was a reader! I suggested he should become a member and I think I was successful in convincing him.
Glad to have you back! You were missed!
Welcome back. Get better!
So, about Zeus’ daughter…is she single?
So glad to have you back and that you are recovering (despite the lightning bolts). Here’s to hoping you have an amazing 2024!
Just want to add my well-wishes and hopes for a speedy recovery. Great to have you back in even a limited capacity. We almost lost you a couple of times this year (depending on how you feel about the safety of chain sawing batteries) so please feel free to skip out on the life-threatening event this year.
So good to read your words again, buddy.
Welcome back, Jason! I can commiserate on the nerve pain in the leg(s). I’m scheduled for back surgery next month that might or might not fix or maybe improve it. All the doc says is, yeah, it’s going to be touchy. So, I hope yours improves all by itself, though it may take some time.
Sorry to hear that, best of luck!
Welcome home friend