Rumours Released In 1977

February 4, 2026, at home

The album "Rumours" by Fleetwood Mac was released on February 4, 1977. Many thanks go to the members of my sophomore (10th grade) math class at West Islip High School in West Islip, Long Island, New York, for pooling their money to buy this album for me as a get-well present.

(NOTE: The photo below is not my album. Mine was misplaced or stolen during the early 1980s, while I was studying at Villanova University in Villanova, Pennsylvania.)

In May 1977, at the age of 16, I contracted Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever on Long Island. I was in Southside Hospital in nearby Bay Shore, initially in the isolation ward for 10 days while doctors tried to determine my affliction. My pediatrician, who was still tending to my health until age 18, knew what it was.

He saved my life. There were about 300 deaths across the United states that year, 40 just on Long Island. My temperature was 104.3 degrees for 10 days. My fever broke on the same day my paternal grandmother passed away while at Good Samaritan Hospital in West Islip.

I remained in the hospital for several weeks with high blood pressure and reddish-purple scales completely covering both of my legs, with some on my arms, abdomen, thorax, and face. I received lots of intravenous antibiotics.

I wasn't able to return to school. I was only required to take two final exams at home, sitting at our dining room table wearing my dark blue pajamas. Many thanks go to Mr. Rodriguez (R.I.P.) for administering my math test. When I was finished, he graded my test at the table. I got a 96. A couple of days later, I took Mr. Wallace's biology test that was administered by a proctor. I got an 80.