The Good
The photo to the left is the best looking version of Gordy Taylor that I'm told will be seen for at least the next 12 months. The man before you is a sinewy 178 pounds. The photo was taken after my Across the Miles interview done yesterday with Don Tomnitz, Vice-Chairman, President, and CEO of D. R. Horton the largest homebuilder in the United States. I had Don in class in the mid 1970s and obviously he has had a stellar career. At lunch yesterday, he brought a tear to my eye when he said, "every school needs a guy like Gordy Taylor who can connect alumni with their alma mater." It was show number 150 and at the end I got a little choked up when I told the audience we would be going on hiatus while I take on my new assignment. Diane and I had a wonderful visit with Don and his lovely wife Sharon.
The Bad
Last night I was laying in bed and felt a gurgling in my throat so I got up to blow my nose and the Kleenex was full of blood. I got a little panicky but it was a singular event, and I went back to bed. This morning we were at the hospital at 7:30 and I must admit I became a bit melancholy. As I took off my clothes and put on my blue dressing gown (Diane mentioned it matched my eyes nicely), I looked at my stomach and it was sort of sad. While I do not possess 6-pack abs, I have had a relatively flat stomach my entire life and I suppose if I have any physical attributes, that is one of them. Soon I would have a tube sticking out of my stomach. While that is a bummer, it is going to be my source of nutrients for the foreseeable future so screw vanity! I've had surgery before (foot, knee, shoulder) but this time I was a little more apprehensive as they were going down through my throat in order to stick a tube out of my stomach. There was a little humor in all of this. We do live in a small town and as the nurse wheeled me to recovery, she said, "do you know everyone in this hospital?" I think I smiled and said, "Oh, I'm just old."
The Ugly
This is simple: my new friend--THE TUBE "dear old PEG." I am not to shower for 48 hours and bubble baths are out. But if Diane is game, I will post a photo of the PEG in a couple of days after I'm allowed to remove the dressings. Still no word on when radiation/chemo begins but gosh, I hope it's soon.
