I was sitting in the doctor’s office a few days ago, reading Arthur Conan Doyle’s “A Study in Scarlet,” when he came in and asked, “How are you today, Mr. Drake?” The thought flitted through my mind that, all things considered, he knew more about that than I did.
Turns out I was right about that.
referring to the biopsy I had undergone last week, he said, “Well, you have cancer of the liver.” I gave him my fullest attention, thus proving once again what Samuel Johnson once wrote, “The prospect of hanging concentrates the mind wonderfully.”
We discussed various surgical options, as well as chemo and radiation.
You know, for a guy who has made New Year’s Resolutions to keep out of the clutches of the medical establishment, I’m not doing all that well, am I?
He told me that it is something that must be taken seriously, and I answered, “Well, doing nothing is not an option.”
Well it could be, if I was a moron, I suppose.
When I was first diagnosed with high blood pressure, folks who didn’t have it themselves were full of advice on how to deal with it, and when I became diabetic, the same sort of folks were all too eager to offer advice. Naturally, none of their advice included going to an actual doctor.
So cancer, which I have written about over the years as it has affected others, now becomes part of my life, and one of the many things I will write about. Meaning that, like so many others, I’m a guy with cancer.
But, as much as I can, I’m not going to let that define who I am. I’m not being pollyannaish here; I know that there will be days when the very idea of getting dressed and facing the world will be almost more than I can bear.
But, you know, I have a wife who loves me, and if I give in to self-pity it won’t be helping her very much.
I’ve got books to read. I’ve got a lot of writing to do, especially on this book about Fayetteville I haven’t devoted nearly enough attention to of late. I have my blog.
I have my show, though I understand that there will be weeks when I just won’t be able make myself even think about it. And there will be times when just the idea of cancer will bring me up short, and I’ll just say, “Shit.”
Still, I hope to make it through this as well as I can, “Bloody, Bold, and Resolute,” to quote the Bard. And one of the ways I will deal with it is to write about it, though:
A) I’ll do my best not to be maudlin about it, and
A) I’ll write about plenty of other things as well, as ever.
So let’s get out there and have a nice day, Yawning Reader.
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Once again, a reminder
As always, I don’t write pieces such the above in an effort to garner sympathy, prayers or pity.
If you want to make me feel better, just tell me the words I love to hear: “Nice writing!” Those words have a wonderful curative power, all on their own. If someone says they will pray for me, well, I always sort of assume that they read the title and the first paragraph, and stopped there.
My wife is on Facebook, however, and if you feel so inclined, you might drop her a line or two of encouragement. None of this will be easy on her.
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Today’s Soundtrack
Listening to some Donna Summer, because there are times when disco is just what the doctor ordered.
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Now on YouTube: Life is a Museum: An Afternoon at Crystal Bridges
My adventure at Crystal Bridges: Life is a Museum: An Afternoon at Crystal Bridges
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EoqNO1KHrTc
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Quote of the Day
Most of our so-called reasoning consists in finding arguments for going on believing as we already do – James Harvey Robinson
rsdrake@cox.net