Life From Here-----Memeorial Day Update 2012

There’s not a lot to update. As I said last week, I met with the Docs and it was determined that I will begin a “mild” Chemo beginning today (May 29th) to try to get the beast to at least slow the F___ down.

The anticipation is waiting for a drug MD XXX something to get final FDA approval. This is expected in late July or early August……It’s also ridiculous that I and others are waiting for some bureaucrat to stamp it….the trials are done and it is designed to work on the little bastard virus that is trying to eat me from the inside out!

I didn’t get into details but the Duke trial obviously didn’t even put a dent in the progression.

I looked the Doc in the eye and said to him twice! Don’t you dare give up on me…..He assured me he wasn’t. The disease is out of control. But not uncontrollable!  Somebody has beaten this, one way or the other! If not…..maybe, now’s the time! I’ll let you know. All cancer patients say that but very few know it!

OK, so I’m here “Getting’ tha’ Goods”…The “mild chemo” (“gentle plane crash”). It’s called Novantrone, it’s the forerunner to Taxotere which was one of the few drugs I really responded to so there’s a shot it will keep me vertical until the new drug is approved and we switch.

So they bring out this drug and it Blue! It’s not Carolina Blue, or even Navy Blue….it’s “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea” Giant Squid ink blue! I looked and that and immediately thought of a recent article in a magazine on a guy in Kentucky that had turned blue! Permanently! She assured me that I wouldn’t turn blue but will probably pee blue for a while……She was right…....so as of now when I pee it always looks like I’m in an Exxon Station!

Monday of course was Memorial Day and like my every other morning I got up and went through the routine of taking drugs and eating what I can so if I feel like it I can go out around noon and....“whan, whan, whan”. Send in the violins!

What about the 24 year old mothers and fathers that are waiting up every morning since one, two or three weeks ago from now on missing and living with no limbs, or with the emotional distress of war. I know this is a day for the present and past Vets that gave the” Ultimate Sacrifice” so we could all sit on our Asses and watch football…..and we should.

I just don’t want us to lose sight of those that will sacrifice everyday from now on. Everyone should contribute something to one of the many funds out there to help our wounded veterans.

We seem to be teaching our kids that if we need a little energy boost at 3 in the afternoon…it’s OK to take drugs for it (5-hour energy, etc.). I remember when we thought Spinach out of a can would do that and more......For Popeye anyway.

I'm sad to report that last week, my Mother received a “Folded Flag” from the VA. My soon to be 92 year old Dad died on May 17th. He will be missed by a lot of people. In my printed Eulogy to him I stated: 
“He would have been 92 June 21st, He was lucid and reasonably healthy right up the end, he died at 5:20 in the morning (Reveille, I’m sure he loved it!) in his sleep, surrounded by loved ones and he seemed to be at Peace.     What’s wrong with that?    Really?

Dad loved Jokes and tales. In the early 70’s I had just gotten out of college and of course knew everything. I came in to help the new, family business, the Mingle School of Real Estate but of course I wanted to change everything....even though it was working.
One day, to prove a point, Dad pulled me aside and said let me tell you a little story:

There was a Father Bull and his Son standing on a hill over looking the Herd. The Son was jumping up and down and saying “Come on Dad! Let’s RUN down there and jump on ONE of those cows! Come on Dad…come on!” The Poppa Bull said “No Son, let’s WALK down there and jump on ALL of them!” That was Dad. And I got the message! Did you?

Thank you all for the Spiritual Light and Prayers. I’ll be in touch! Bob