STOP IT.

My body has been invaded
twice by strangers who do not
belong. One would end me.
One would save me
for a miraculous moment I
do not yet know about.

— Lewis Cancer Center, June 27, 2013

The chemo, for this phase, is over. Surgery or radiation is next. We do not know yet. As it seems with all cancer, all depends on tests.

Nora’s friend, Regina, was there on the spot. What a truly lovely lady, with her cookies, with her cleverness, charm, silliness. She promises to come to The Ridge. Nora is eager for that, for anything but another trip to Savannah (which we will do in two weeks for a blood infusion).

Except for the people she’s met there. It is an unimaginable environment for those of us who contend with only the drivel of our days. Bills, school, crabgrass, cars needing fixing, an appointment missed (so sorry, I was in chemo), misplaced keys, disappointing sports scores. Except for the chemo, it is all nothing.

Nora has been exhausted. Short of breath. But her hair (slowly) grows back. Today’s joke was “Which side should I part it on?” It went over well. Have the nurses heard this before? They laugh. They are so very kind.

We’ll find out what’s next based on some more tests. It seems it is always more. Which I guess is good.

Nora got to ring “the bell” but as usual she shied away from the camera. However, if you look closely, you can see the fuzz on her head and that “I dare you” stare I know so well. Fortunately, the target is the cancer, not me.

Thank you, all of you.

Paul

P.S. All of you have been so gracious, so kind, so generous. Please spread Nora’s message to friends. Our “matching gift” ($1 = $1.50 for those new to this) ends June 30^th.

“One should not bring sympathy to a sick man. It is always kindly meant, and, of course it has to be taken–but it isn’t much of an improvement on castor oil. One who has a sick man’s true interest at heart will forbear spoken sympathy, and bring him surreptitious soup and fried oysters and other trifles that the doctor has tabooed.”
— Mark Twain

One left.

Nora had her second to last chemo treatment today! One left to go. Blood numbers were good but BP and pulse off. Which is why she is totally exhausted. “Ms. Energy 2012” has changed her title to “Ms. Give-me-a-second 2013.” Impossible to believe we’ve been doing this since February. We meet tomorrow with Nora’s PA, Stephanie, to discuss the fatigue.

Boyd Creek is still the best medicine. Since Nora’s immune system is still compromised, visits are limited and no crowds (stores, parties [ha ha], movies).

Paul’s office view, thanks to Nora

So the peace of our place continues to comfort Nora. As do our neighbors, our friends. How did we get so damn lucky?

I had a wonderful Father’s Day visit from daughter Sarah and beau Jeremy. I was served a big breakfast and received very funny cards, a magnificent Hawaiian shirt (I am prone to wear these), and was treated to 9 holes of golf at Sergeant Jasper CC. Daughter Sarah is getting quite good. Very proud of her.

Mastectomy scheduled for mid-July. When Nora heals from the operation, weeks of daily radiation follow on Hilton Head. Nora will be staying with Sarah and Jeremy. At least that’s the treatment schedule today. Tests in July will affect how we go forward.

Several (dozens?) of you have asked how I am doing. I’m fine. Had an extensive physical last Saturday and I passed with gliding colors. (I have been told that after 65 you “glide” rather than “fly.” I am not convinced.)

You have all be so wonderful, thoughtful, understanding. Thank you.

Paul

P.S. Please remember to pass the word along. Our $1 = $1.50 matching donor offer ends June 30. You have all been so generous and amazing. This, even more so. Spread the word. Tell all your Face Book/Twitter/Pinterest, etc. friends to visit Nora’s gofundme.com site. Just think. If ten of your friends donated $1, through the magic of matching funds it becomes $1.50! I’m just funning with you, but that’s sure better than the stock market.

EGRET

An egret rests a moment
on our dock unafraid.
What a wonder.
Just for us or rehearsal for
a bigger crowd who will
cheer at their luck?
Look, they will quietly applauded
(too much gratitude
will drive the bird away),

All I know before
it took flight it seemed
to ask us (they do not sing),
more in gesture than
voice, “Was that enough? I
can come tomorrow
to catch another fish.”

Dear family and friends,

Tomorrow is chemo day. Two more left after this. Then surgery. Then radiation for a few months.

I really, really hate cancer. Most recently, it took my little sister (she was younger AND little). If I’ve got it right, long ago, it also took my grandmother.

This past week Nora has been extra “puny” (her word). The chemo is taking its toll. She hates it and will let you know specifically just how she feels about that! Since the dogs and I are the only ones around to hear her declamations to the heavens, we feel her frustrations personally and attempt to encourage thoughts more positive than “Bomb everybody!”  (At certain times, I have learned what to do with my “encouragement,” and we both laugh.)

This episode in our lives is so amazing. “Strangers” comfort us, but then they are no longer strangers.

I will paraphrase my favorite writer (William Carlos Williams) from his poem, “Waiting.” This is what Nora would say …

What did I plan to say to him
when it should happen to me
as it has happened now?

Thank you for your love.

Paul

THE VISIT

An egret rests a moment
on our dock unafraid.
What a wonder. Just for us
or rehearsal for a bigger
crowd who will  cheer
at their luck? Look,
they will say and quietly
applauded  (too much gratitude
will drive the bird away),
“It primps on the oak branch
just to your left”
someone will say.

Fine. All I know before
it took flight is that it seemed
to ask us (they do not sing),
more in gesture than
voice, “Was that enough? I
can come tomorrow  to
catch another fish. Just
for you.”

608 Boyd Creek Drive

Dear family and friends,

Tomorrow is chemo day. Two more left after this. Then surgery. Then radiation for a few months.

I really, really hate cancer. Most recently, it took my little sister (she was younger AND little). If I’ve got it right, long ago, it also took my grandmother.

This past week Nora has been extra “puny” (her word). She hates it and let you know just how she feels about that! Since the dogs and I are the only ones around to hear her declamations to the heavens, we feel her frustrations personally and attempt to encourage.  (At certain times, I have learned what to do with my “encouragement,” and we both laugh.)

This episode in our lives is so amazing. “Strangers” comfort us, but then they are no longer strangers.

I will paraphrase my favorite writer (William Carlos Williams) from his poem, “Waiting.” This is what Nora would say …

What did I plan to say to him
when it should happen to me
as it has happened now?

Thank you for your love. . .

Paul

P. S. And thank everyone for their contribution to Nora’s medical expenses. We have been overwhelmed! Please spread the word to friends or friends of friends. The 50% matching funds donation ends June30. One buck equals $1.50. In SO MNAY REPSECTS I wish I didn’t have to do this. But once committed I have been so overwhelmed with the generosity of others, it truly reminds me of who we (everyone!) really are and how generous we are. Yes, you have amazed this typically cynical person.

Ran out of days. A busy time on the creek. Nora’s sister, Diane, paid us a wonderful visit last week. Now the front and back of the house are lined with flowers and herbs. (Note: We have yet to agree on where the front and back of the house is located. We may end up with a compromise, “road side” and creek side.”)

Tomorrow is chemo day. Nora has four left before surgery in July. The cumulative effect of Taxol causes her to feel extreme sensations of exhaustion and weakness, Joints and muscles ache. All this is “normal” during chemo treatments. Nora refers to all of the above as feeling “puny.” But laughter is still loudest here.

Last Thursday Nora and I celebrated my birthday together in a room that was beyond imagining, yet all the same a very welcome gift. It is a room filled with very good people. Regina, Nora’s new friend, was there with her cookies and pictures of her grandchildren from a recent trip. She related a snack-time story about one of the kids (three or four, I can’t remember) who said, “Hey mama, I’m ate a banana with my Nana from Savannah.” Like I said, very good people.

Daughter Sarah and Jeremy came out to “The Ridge” for the weekend. Saturday was 9 holes at Sergeant Jasper CC, another present. And to top it off, Jeremy mowed the lawn (we have a BIG lawn) Sunday (yet another present).

We discovered the gender of the armadillo who took up residence under our home. She had four identical pups. The number has fallen to one because we also discovered our dogs are not great fans of armadillo pups.

It is morning now. Nora is sleeping, an irregular event.

Thank you all for your cards, best wishes, calls and kind thoughts.

From the creek,

Paul

P.S. Please pass on the word about the matching contributions. The end of June will soon be upon us.