The cheap seats: Where's Cameron? Mystery solved

It’s everyday stuff to be summoned in this biz.

For instance, I might hear that gentlemanly tone of Mike Patrick cut the air …

“Where the heck is Cameron? Where is he?”

In truth, most of the staff don’t actually know Mike’s title.

He’s just the boss.

And that’s more than enough for mere mortals who hope to remain employed a week later.

To hear the boss asking my whereabouts, then, requires an immediate reply – especially when most people at The Press, including readers and pals of the newspaper – honestly did not know where I’d gone.

But Mike knew.

So, when he found me, the only proper response was a hug.

We’ve been best friends and colleagues of some sort for 36 years – as close as two characters can be.

Thus …

A hug.

And another.

I HAD THOUGHT that keeping things quiet – perhaps returning to my job and the world around me softly and with no fanfare – was the proper way to handle things.

I had been sick.

Pretty damn sick.

Pneumonia on top of cancer and other ills will make you feel like the end of the world – even while you’re praying that it’s not.

I’m not entirely well yet, either. Some outstanding doctors and nurses are slowly leading me back to health.

So …

Besides cheering from the sidelines, where does the boss fit into this picture?

Well, he’s made it clear from the start that whatever I felt like making public was entirely up to me.

But …

“There are way more people who miss you and wonder what happened,” Mike said. “You wouldn’t believe the emails I get.”

No, I wouldn’t believe it, except …

We have an amazing and loyal readership, especially in sports (yes, I can be sick and biased, too).

I AM CERTAINLY no global superstar, with millions waiting on my next Instagram post.

But I’ll happily settle for being a columnist with just about the coolest job in the world.

Mike knows exactly how I feel, which is probably why he nudged me toward sharing this life event with all of you – like going through it together.

It also gives me a chance to say: Don’t ignore the warning signs of lung disease – and there are plenty.

Pneumonia sounds like a kid’s illness, but it’s a beast.

I admit I took these things far too lightly.

I had no clue, not until I was bundled up in the hospital, suffering from hallucinations and a few other visions of hell.

Right now, it would sound terrific just to hear the boss hollering to get back to work.

While giving me a hug, too.

Steve Cameron is a sports columnist for The Press who's warming up in the bullpen and will soon be back on the mound regularly.