SHAMOKIN - Mayor George Rozinskie returned home Saturday following almost three weeks of hospitalization after falling down a flight of 15 stairs in his home.
"You can't keep a good old man down," the 78-year-old Rozinskie said Sunday via a telephone interview with The News-Item.
Although he sounded weary, Rozinskie was in good spirits and was joking during the interview, but also said he was tired and sore.
The mayor said the fall, which occurred after midnight July 23 when he was looking for the bathroom, broke a few ribs and his collar bone and cracked his spine.
His wife, Georgette Rozinskie, drove him to Geisinger-Shamokin Area Community Hospital, Coal Township, before he was transferred to the main Geisinger campus in Danville, where he spent the next two weeks and four days.
"I'm doing alright now, but I'm sore," he said.
While he isn't in a cast or bandages any longer, he does have a walker until he's strong enough to move around without it. He's been told by doctors to stay off his feet until he feels better.
Rozinskie said he will be visiting the hospital for physical therapy over the next couple months, and will also be having frequent visits from the nurses during the week at his home. His next appointment is today at 3 p.m.
To pass the time, he said he's been reading and sitting on the porch.
He said he's not sure when he'll be able to return to his mayoral duties, but noted he'd like to stop by city hall next week to talk to the employees and see what's happening.
"If it was up to me, I'd be there already," he said.
Before the fall, Rozinskie and Steve Bartos, city clerk, were scheduled to travel together to Philadelphia on Tuesday for business.
As a result of the fall, a special meeting was rescheduled for lack of a quorum. Councilmen R. Craig Rhoades and Michael Snyder also were unavailable.
With the mayor on leave, Councilman William Strausser, finance director and vice mayor, will lead council.
Rozinskie was a city councilman before being elected mayor, beginning a four-year term in 2010. He is not seeking re-election in this year's election.