Do you remember Gauntlet?

It was a four-person game back in the mid 80s and 90s. Plug a quarter in and you could play as a quick but weak elf, mid-skilled Valkyrie, slow warrior or even slower wizard.

I’d hope and pray for reflective shot and, I think, at one point there was a way for multiple or quick attacks with reflective shot. The entire screen would be bouncing with little swords seeking anything that moves.

It was awesome.

The monsters would come from generators. The generator would create a certain monster at a certain difficulty level. Once attacked, it would become smaller and, eventually, disappear.

Well, the infection I had in December that was near my spine… which could have gotten into my blood stream, which could have affected my nerves, and crippled me, is back.

It’s not as severe as it was since it was caught early. I’m already going to wound care, on antibiotics, and have been referred to an infectious disease doctor (waiting on a call).

So, there’s that. It’s great. I’m not going to struggle with it for over six months like last year.

But I feel like a Gauntlet generator.
The virus… the monster… is back on my back. It doesn’t have a hole that went deep like before. Rather, this is a gash – like a zombie bite, that’s shallow.

It’s still dangerously close to my spine and central nervous system.

Still, I’m not worried, anxious (about it), or even vaguely concerned. I’m not surprised. If something like that was going to happen, I’d rather it happens to me than anyone else.

Rather, I’m angry that the virus decided to come back at all.

Cue Greta’s “How dare you!” sound.

Current theories:

The infection is like MERSA.
Once compromised, a person has a heightened chance for reoccurrence. It’s just “something that happens.”

If so, this is something that I could be dealing with on and off for the rest of my life.

or…

The rod that’s holding up my spine is infected.

If this is true, that I really am a generator. To reduce or eliminate the monster would destroy (remove) the rod.

Either way, I’m fortunate that this was caught early and, hopefully, not contagious. This also means that, if reoccurring, my immune system will be continually compromised. It’ll become easy to catch whatever version of Covid or whatever is floating around and I’ll always need to have someone watch my back (haha) – literally and physically.

If the infection is always there, I’ll have a continual risk of it getting into my nerves, blood, or vital organs. If it’s in the rod and the rod is removed, a spine reconstruction could take years of recovery, providing I survive the procedure.


I’ve always known that the rod would have to be removed. Actually, I started thinking that when Gauntlet was still in the arcades. A body is flexible. It moves. As it ages, it changes. A titanium rod is like adamantium. The doctors said, at the time, that it’s safe. Dad said that it’d still be there in my coffin once my body decays.

Dad and the doctors could be wrong. If it is removed, I hope I get to keep some of it. It’d be awesome to have it molded as part of a necklace, bracelet, or anklet. The metal has been my constant companion for over 30 years. I’d like to keep some of it.

Course, I don’t think that the doctors would elect to remove it. The osteoporosis is a severe factor and why I get to see mom nightly for a shot. My bones share, apparently, the consistency of an old sponge. That’s not the strongest foundation for a new spine.

Besides, I’d imagine I would be a significant insurance liability on the hospital and/or doctor.

Even if the rod is an infection generator, it’s probably something that I’ll just have to live with – the constant apprehension that the virus could hit a nerve or the blood.

I’m sure I’m getting a little ahead of myself. This is the curse (or the blessing) of being a Myer mastermind. I’m plotting, I guess.

If it was up to me, I’d yank the dern rod out.
Sure, the bones ” might ” rebuild to the point of being strong. But how many more years could that take? Would I be 60? 70? by the time I supposedly recover? The infection could have taken me or parts of me by then.

It may not matter if I have a new spine by then or not. Age could keep me from recovery. Best I have a fighting chance now.

In the interim, there are other things going on – like the trans person who shot children, Russia bombing Ukraine, food shortages, and the Church of Robetheism . No, honestly, the Church is a real thing. It’s something I sort of learned about today.

Welcome – Christian Robotheism Church


I wonder what type of monster I’d generate.
In Gauntlet, Death was one, if not the, most formable opponent. Ghosts were a bit annoying too.

But, I’ll continue on.
I’m not quite ready to become a keyring.