Hi, I am writing this on behalf of Larry Perkins, aka the Penton Man (This is Laura, I help him at his janitorial business).
Larry is very sick and wanted POG people to know what is going on, especially those who may have ordered parts and are wondering what's up. Larry found out late last week that he has shingles (it is a very painful nerve and skin infection that is related to chickenpox). He has been to the emergency room several times since he was diagnosed. Besides being in terrible misery from the shingles rash, he has flulike symptoms and has not been able to keep food down. The rash is on his face and in his right eye (swollen shut), and his sight is at risk.
For most people it takes about a month to recover from shingles. I am not sure how long it will be before Larry is well enough to come in to the office, answer emails, ship parts, etc.
He just wanted you all to know that he is ill and he would appreciate it if you would remember him in your prayers.
All of my prayers are with Larry and his family. I know how painful that can be. It is caused by the chicken pox virus that never leaves your system. I too suffer from a chicken pox related illness called Hunts Ramsey Syndrome. Just like shingles except it is in the ear canal. Having shingles is one of the most painful illnesses that a perosn could have. God speed and you are in my prayer Larry.
Donny Smith
Laura,
tell Larry it will get better . i had the same thing about 20 years ago. It lasted a lot longer than 1 month but he should be mobile in a month.Let him know he is in our prayers.
John & Peter D.
Laura, thank you for letting us know about Larry's condition. He will, without question, be in all of our prayers.
Hi guys. Been away awhile. It's great to see the closeness that this group has.
Larry, I realize you are going through an ordeal. A member of my family had shingles. It was a though time but it did pass. Just remember, my friend...No matter what challenges or obstacles we face, we are more than conquerers with God. Get well buddy!
Larry
Get well Larry, I called and Laura said you were sick. Don't worry about sending anything to me until you are feeling great. Give me a call at work sometime if you feel like talking.
Rod
Laura,
Please tell Larry that we are all pulling for him to have a full and speedy recovery. Tell him that I challenge him to another corn-on-the-cob eating contest at Dick Klamforth's picnic this summer, he always loves a challenge!!
Paul Danik
Larry,
i know the pain your in. it can be unbearable at times. i came down with shingles in august of last year. i had it on the left side of my back and chest.about the time it started to clear i got it on the right side. the doctors say this happens sometimes. the virus stays with you and can reaccur at any time. like you i now have it on my head but not to the extent that you do. pain pills help for a little while but thats not the answer. i hope this passes soon, your in my prayers. GOD BLESS YOU
Dean Sutherin
Larry,
I pray that you have a good recovery. I appreciat the prayers you had and still have for me and I will have the same for you. If you need ANYTHING just call, you have my numbers. As you can see you have a great TEAM praying for you.
Laura,
As I told you today just put all my parts on hold till Larry is back. If I can help let me know.
Highest regards,
Ron Carbaugh
Larry & Laura - positive thoughts for you both, get well soon Larry.
VMX1963
Western Australia
VMX KTM (http://members.iinet.net.au/~allantud/)
Laura, thank you for letting us know. Please let larry know that He will indeed be in our prayers. I can not imagine what he is going through but I know it must be difficult. I wait with anticipation for the day that I hear that he has recovered. Please keep us posted. I have seen God do some pretty amazing things. He is not silent or absent in the affairs of man. This I know from my own life and in the lives of many of my friends.
Larry hang in there, We got your back
Thom Green,I own and ride a 76 250 MC5 MX which I bought new.
Hi Penton guys,
This is Larry's friend Laura again (signed on as Larry).
I saw Larry today and he is feeling a little better, even though he looks like the Swamp Thing. I read him your messages and it seemed to mean a lot to him and lifted his spirits a little. His girlfriend, Jana, is a nurse, so he's in pretty good hands.
Thanks again for your prayers and kind words of support. I know he appreciates it a lot.
Larry,
You were the first one I found on the internet to buy parts from, and from there on I've been livin' large again. Hope you get back on your feet soon enough. Godspeed.
Robert Manucy
72 Berkshire
72 Six Day
Get Well soon Larry. Them shingles are painful, had them my self. Our prayers are with you. Oh yah, I'll be in Springfield the end of May. Want to meet you. I'll stop by your place and gander at all the Penton goodies.
Dale
Idaho :)
Larry, Get better soon. Debbie and I are pulling for ya !
Cher'o,
Dwight & Debbie Rudder
Dwight Rudder
7 time ISDT / E medalist
8 time National Enduro Class Champion.
Larry,
Just found out about your illness. You know FOR SURE that Rosemary and I are praying for you. Looking forward to riding with you soon!!!!
Teddy
Larry,
I don't know what you're going through, and hope I never find out either!! My stepmother had the shingles years ago and she said it was quite painful. I'll keep you in my prayers and hope for a speedy recovery for you. I was hoping that I'd see you this weekend at Teddy's ISDT Vintage Qualifier but that doesn't look like it's going to happen does it????
I'll catch up to you and we'll ride Chadwick together FOR SURE this Sprint, OK? That will give you, and ME, something to look forward to right?
Your friend,
"Phast Phil" Ketchum
Phast Phil
Moderator, Hodaka Owners Group
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Hodaka
Larry,
I only spoke to you once, however, I was impressed with your passion for Penton and vintage parts and your forthrightness and honest expression. I was also taken with the fact that you only spoke good things about everyone and everything.... a rare quality -- especially when done with the sincerity that you expressed.
As you know, many (including me who doesn't even know you well) have expressed sorrow and loss that we don't hear from you more often. You are an intregal part of this Penton history. I truly hope that I have the opportunity to meet you in person one day. God speed.
Hello Larry,Hope this finds you better. Had'em once myself but not as severe as your's. It takes time and patience. Just think of it as a different kind of race, it takes determination and endurance to win, and you will because you are a winner! Godspeed!!!
Jim
Larry Get well soon so as you can enjoy the summer. Sounds like you are in pretty good hands at home.;) If we can be of service, please contact us. Good Luck!
My dear friends,
I thank you all so very much for all your kind thoughts and prayers. I am doing better, though full vision is yet to come. The pain part gets better every day. I tuely appreciate you all and look forward to communicating better. Much of my life is in turmoil and I am glad to know that no matter what crumbles around me that there are friends to reach out to. Thanks again. This experience has changed me and I hope to come back a better person. I look forward to riding with and seeing you all again.
Larry
Larry,
It was sure great to visit with you at your shop back in December. I'm really sorry to hear about your health problems. Hope they get straightened out real soon. Seems like sometimes it takes something like this to learn how many true friends you really have. You're very lucky.
Get Well
Larry, Im sorry to here you have this virus. I think maybe you might remember our conversation over the phone about both of our careers as bicycle racers. After many seasons of hard, hard training I decided to do something nice for my body. So I went out in search of a person to teach me Thi Chi. After practicing for six months I started to feel big differences in how I felt. This evening my wife was reading a Prevention magizine and there was an article about Thi Chi fighting Shingles. Prevention has a web sight. wwww.prevention.com. You could probably find this on the internet if your up to it. Anyway, just made me think of you. Hope your starting to feel better. Gavin.
Larry, Glad to hear that you are feeling better. I have never gone through anything like what you are experiencing but I have certainly seen my share of rough times and for sure one of the true treasures in life is the friends that will stick with you through thick and thin. Such things will change a man. Some it brings the worst and some it brings out the best. Like metal being heated what a person is truly made of will come out when we are put to the test. I never doubted it would only bring out the best. I look forward to hearing more good new as the next few weeks unfolds. We will continue to hold you up in prayer. NO time to slack of yet. The finish line is yet to come.
Take care and God's Speed
Thom Green,I own and ride a 76 250 MC5 MX which I bought new.
Larry, it is good to hear that your affliction is letting up, although I'm sure you will be even more happy to see it get totally into submission. Sorry to be so late, I got more than just the Penton sickness (only one of those), and got the word from the Vinduro group. Also, It's been a while and I had trouble logging in (sue me for non-support). Anyway, thanks for your help in times gone by. I look forward to seeing you bright-eyed and bushy-tailed the next time around, and will pray for same. Thank Laura for keeping us posted. Cliff
Larry, Being THE Penton man Im sure Youll pull thru with flying colors. Pentons are the toughest units around! Your in my prayers.
Hi Larry,
I'm sure glad to hear that things are starting to turn your way. Someone said it best, and I paraphrase here, "You'll beat this thing because you're a winner". In my opinion that phrase sums up my opinion of you.
God Speed to you my friend,
Phast Phil
Moderator, Hodaka Owners Group
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Hodaka