Eight years and two months ago, newscaster Ed Dague went home from work not feeling well.
What he and his many fans didn't know was that he had just finished his last newscast. An aggressive and vicious form of arthritis drove him off the air for good. There has been an occasional blog and recently a book, but for the most part, Dague has stayed quiet.
"I got into TV news wanting to make a difference," said Dague. "I don't think I did."
For 41 years he was the voice and face that did make a difference to many in the Capital Region. Now eight years after, he has opened his home and life to FOX23's John Gray.
On what his health condition is, Dague answered, "I see the big long name, ankolosys spondolitis. It's rhumatoid arthritis of the spine, but in my case it's in all of the extremities as well. Some of the worst pain now is in my ankles, its like my shoe is in a vice, my foot in a vice."
At 67-years-old, what has a grip on him now are pills. "These are before sleep, a muscle relaxant," he showed.
Dague now has enough pills to stock a pharmacy. Drugs he needs every minute, of every day because the pain is that bad.
"I take eight methadone a day. Is the big one and that's the one that scares me because it's addictive and so I'm addicted," said Dague.
He's also addicted to his family. His wife Donna of 42 years, children, grandchildren and of course his two best friends - on four legs.
"There both 14. They were puppies born 10 days apart, they were puppies together and they really love each other," he said.
Dague's love is also knowledge.
"I'm the one who reads the entire Internet every day. The whole thing, I read it all," he said.
And there's writing, first a blog, then this book 'Six and Eleven.' The book is a television news anchor's story. It's a painfully honest account of a boy with an abusive father, who broke free to pursue what he wanted, a career as a journalist.
He's a history buff, from his World War II model planes, to the very steps in his home, where he had an artist re-create the battle of Saratoga. Complete with his house and the dogs of course.
But his quiet retreat on Saratoga Lake has not been without controversy. Three years ago Dague was arrested when he thought his wife was in trouble during a traffic stop, and he threatened a cop over the phone. He'd later settle the case, paying a fine.
At the time of the arrest, some threw stones at Dague over his mistake. I wrote a column in the paper throwing him support. Turns out he read it.
"That's why I'm doing this interview and I'm fond of you. You didn't beat up on me when you could have," he said.
For four decades the private man did a very public job and in the thousands of places, faces and stories. It's the few he got wrong that haunt him still. The one thing he knows he got absolutely right, following his heart.
"So my message is don't decide what you want to do until the last possible moment. Don't listen to your parents, your teachers, only you know what you like. What you're really interested in. Do what interests you and you'll be a success, make some money and be happy," he said.
