Wednesday, August 24
I’ve quickly come to realize what all parents must know as so clearly obvious: Although incredibly adorable and tons of fun, a toddler and a precocious 4-year old leave no room whatsoever for rest and relaxation – even in the life of a metastatic cancer patient. However, they do provide untold joy, laughter, simplicity and entertainment – a trade-off, I most gladly accept and embrace!
Tanya’s family visit has moved from last week in Sunriver to this week in Eugene. Our home is their base and one fun day continues to follow the next. We play in yard, harvest the garden, invent things in the workshop, frolic at the pool, cycle around town, explore the bouncy gym and go back to the pool again. By day’s end (8:30pm), I honestly am unsure who is more tired – adults or kids.
I will surly miss them all at week’s end. They have been a most wonderful diversion from the more somber parts of my current journey. On that note, I leave you with a 19 second video as a sample of the 1.2 million seconds we have enjoyed together during this most fun-filled family vacation. Enjoy!
It is a good life Mike and you’re a prime, enviable, example of how to really live it well. Reach for the next bolt my friend, we’ve got a good belay on. Thinking of you and Laurie…
Mike,
You must have read some helpful books during this stage of life- what do you recommend both for patients and for friends of patients?
John
Hey John,
Over the past four months, both Laurie and I have done extensive research……..not so many books,but a few. We’ve learned that cancer is very heterogenous – hugely variable across individuals. We’ve also learned that there are innumerable claims and counterclaims with respect to cures and remedies. Many are quite compelling; yet finding ‘real’ data to support these claims is tough. Finally, I’ve come to learn that cancer is at least as hard on the loved ones than it is on the patient.
To your point, I would recommend a book I read in high school and recently reread: “Death Be Not Proud” by John Gunther first published in 1949.
Hope this helps………..
Hi Mike and Laurie
Glad to find so much Good Life reference here! Hope to see you in the next month or two.
Love to you both
And,
Of course,
In this vein,
Have I bookmarked your blogsite
“Heil Mike!”