I took a walk this morning and sort of reflected on what has been happening. None of this seems very logical to me. After all, I brush, floss, gargle, and water pik, have never smoked, work out almost every day, and generally keep my weight in check. I take a regimen of vitamins as prescribed by Dr. Diane and generally drink only a couple of Diet Cokes a day. This whole situation just seems inconsistent in the world in which I've lived. But then I realize that life is not always logical or fair which I assume explains the good fortune I've experienced for most of my life. I can take it a step further when I think of my good friend and neighbor Darrell Dykstra who didn't smoke, drink, exercised daily, never had a foul word for anyone and certainly didn't pee in alleys--on the last two items I must admit Darrell was better than me--and the poor guy died from cancer 3 years after an almost 10 year battle. It always struct me that if someone as wonderful and kind as Darrell could become afflicted, it could happen to anybody. Damn, I hate to be so prophetic.
Had a little set back a couple of days ago. I went to the dentist to get his clearance before my fun radiation/chemo regimen begins and while he found no cavities, he did find a lump on the left side of my neck. I immediately assumed I was dead. A quick trip to Burlington resulted in a antibiotic prescription to treat what my ENT doc said was a minor infection--don't worry about it.
Wednesday former alumni council member Sue Seaver Goetz from the Quad Cities stopped by and said, "Gordy Taylor, how's the new normal?" I looked at her and realized she hit the nail on the head. Normal as I know it has probably changed forever in ways I cannot even conceive. For a guy who NEVER, and I mean never, takes naps except for strategically timed ones with Diane (please don't make me explain), I now can nod off in an instant. So the new normal will evolve daily. Yesterday former student and long time friend, Frank Costanza, stopped by from Kansas City. Frank was a great baseball player at Valporaiso but by his own admission couldn't hit the curve ball. Frank could throw the ball farther and harder than anyone I've ever seen. When we played softball for Baymillers, we would have contests throwing the ball from center field to homeplate. My arm was not as strong but the ball ultimately reached the catcher. Frank's throw arrived much earlier but usually flew over the backstop into the next diamond. As we sat up last night solving the world's problems and me realizing how important real friends are at a time like this, Frank said, "You know, Gord, very few people are fortunte enough to have the ideal job which they love and which they excel at. You are ones of those people." Frank is right.
Nephew Neil, his wife Michelle, and son Jack stopped by today on their way home to Wisconsin from a trip to Colorado. A 3 year old has lots of energy and I realize life is a never ending circle.
Tomorrow is the big day. We leave for Burlington at 7:30 a.m. and have been told to plan on spending the day. It appears treatment will not begin April 12th--maybe the 19th. Let's hope. I will be a basket case by then, but I'm told it generally takes 2 months from diagnosis to the beginning of treatment and I was diagnosed March 4th.
My next entry should reveal the course my life will take for the next year or so. And so it goes......
