Saturday, August 11, 2012
A new adventure
A NEW ADVENTURE
Some of you have traveled with me on my little trips to here and there. A few have even told me that they enjoyed the journey. I’m inviting you to go on another kind of journey with me. This one has an unknown destination. For those of you who require a happy ending, this may not be for you. I’m writing this mostly for myself but if you want to tag along you are welcome. If not, that’s OK too. We all have choices, don’t we?
We have all had that phone call that changes everything. It may be good news, but more likely it is not. We have to sit down and digest the news and think about how the cosmic lottery called life has just dealt us a bad hand. This happened to me last week. The phone call came from my doctor. Here’s a hint: when your doctor tells you about a “mass” he’s not talking about a catholic ceremony. Yup, that’s it. Let’s all say it together “cancer” - what John Wayne called “The big C”. Well, that ruined my whole day! Damn!
I think our first inclination is to keep that news to yourself. I thought about that for about five minutes. I read somewhere a suggestion to keep a journal. I think that’s a good idea. But being the self-centered attention-seeking person I am, I thought “Hey! I’ll do a blog!”. And so I will.
A few ground rules first: I do not feel sorry for myself. It is what it is. I will not accept any sympathy from anyone. Period. Support - sure. Empathy even. No sympathy. please. Next: I have friends who are into alternate forms of medicine. I respect that. Please respect my choices and do not suggest any miracle cures for me. I trust my physician with my life. Next: I am the same cynical sarcastic socialist atheist I was before, so please don’t lay any religious stuff on me. I respect your beliefs but don’t share them. Please respect mine (I do have them). Thanks.
I have friends that I have known for a long time. I have friends I’ve never met. You are all my friends and I value your friendship. Some of you will not want to go to places this blog may take you. I understand that. I will put a link to this blog on Facebook for my virtual friends. You can click on it or not. Today IS the first day of the rest of my life. And yours. Enjoy it. I will.
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5 comments:
We love you! Buckling up for the ride. This was so well written that I almost enjoyed it, but have to take a little while longer to get the part where we're laughing together.
Your cousin, Bryan, here. Kent--I will be watching and learning here. You write very well and I try to be a student of wisdom/insight wherever it appears. I'm looking forward to your perspective on this more than you will ever know.
Ah, another magic carpet ride for you. Everything's an adventure, we just never know where it will lead.
Ten years ago this week I was sent home from a week in the hospital with the news that I probably had metastatic ovarian cancer. A couple weeks later after surgery, it was discovered that I had a rare form of ovarian cancer that does not spread.
In that month, both eventualities were deeply interesting and full of possibilities. I either knew what I was going to die from and a rough idea when, or I had a second chance to do the things that I had not done. It was the second, so I headed out to adventure...
Here's to you and your life and legacy. You're family that I've never met, which is interesting enough in its own right. Onward, and thank you for sharing your journey.
Rachel just told me, and I am speechless. Why just a few days ago it was 1961.
I am optimistic about cancer. Remember the Wicked Witch of the West had it in the early 1950s. She went on another 30+ years. Of course, I'm not sure many of us in our age group will see another 30 years. However, I note that aunt Marguerite is still plugging along at 99. Marian Wall made it to 100.
The next question of course is whether making it to 100 is all that good an idea.
Are you accepting atheist prayers?
I am speechless. I am always riveted by your writing... this has me immobile. Time for you to put the warrior panties on and go a little crazy nuts. As for me, sometimes it's best to just keep company in these situations. So, here I am... at the ready. Keeping company.
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