No kidding aside, my expectations for the day were limited and accepted as so with a little list of items to check off. I'm never against spontaneity, a random act or shooting from the hip, but today was impressive for me and fun!!!
The morning started off mundane with me assuming boyfriend duties making coffee for Alex, packing her lunch and taking the pups for morning nature calls. I kissed Alex good bye and the predetermined list was erected on the fly for the remaining 12 hours.
I jokingly said to my pops, lets knock out the bathroom and kitchen faucets. A simple chore the lady needed changed in her house. After an hour of "plumber Bob" work with Bill, my dad and 1 1/2 sinks down I told the pops I needed to go to the Dr's office to get my blood levels checked and pick up paperwork I alluded to in previous blogs etc. As a good father he obliged and kept up the hard work. He's exceptionally talented in the arena of construction, mechanical and electrical engineering and craftsmanship. Plus I was a little nauseated from laying on my back under the sink, I know, I know... what a bitch I am.
Before I made it to the lab draw I had a little trash dump task to knock out. A little free driving rocking to classic rock lead me to the landfill in Weatherford, Tx. A slow and inefficient process at the plant was thwarted by the warm effects of narcotics. Nonetheless driving my truck down a thousand foot landfill to dispose of raw material in a mountain of garbage makes you feel alive!! Whatever, easy, nononsense task. After another 10 minutes was wasted waiting on the archaic, antiquated equipment used to process my credit card I headed for the Oncologist.
The main point of today as discussed yesterday was to assertain whether my blood counts were low in order to put my ass on lock down by the loving women in my family.
No sweat, a little stick, blood drawn and paperwork in hand, however I didn't have the patience to wait on my levels. I, however, contacted the nurse and asked if they would contact me if there was anything to worry about. I cannot stand impedance in progression from outside variables we have no control over. Most people in my situation have time as do I, however I chose to spend it doing other things:) I never received a call, so I presumed it was all good:)
At this time I started to feel a little dizzy, light headed and weak. After a snack and a cola I realized i hadn't eaten enough. On to the gym. On my drive to 24 Hour Fitness I decided it was georgous outside and I should grab my father and head down to the Colonial in Forth Worth to watch professionals wack a little white ball around. Done, made phone calls, coordinated with Alex and let the mom know dad needed to be ready by 2 pm.
The gym: For some its a chore, others its a check in the box, and for many its their sanity. One common variable, however, is no matter why, when, or what for, the actual work is about 80% getting there. I wasn't feeling great as I walked in, but I knew I needed the endorpheons released. I was correct. A hard 40 min upper body workout and I had new found explosion of energy. I was thinkning about the looks on the faces of my gym mates in the coming weeks when my hair falls out. I only hope they are inspired.
So it's off to pick up my father to go watch golf in person. I thought it was a decent jesture considering I left him with house hold chores to do. I was correct because he was pumped and ready to go when I returned. After delivering a kiss to Kay, my mom, and devouering her delicious sandwhich she made upon my request, we packed up in the minivan and drove south to Forth Worth.
I left the young and beuatiful Alex asleep in her bed as she was able to leave work around noonish to catch up on much needed sleep she was deprived previously from living with my chemo ass. She deserved it and had big plans later in the evening for wake boarding on the lake. Yes, she is just as or more active than I am. A good sided note here is our seemless ability between the two of us to not only enjoy our own lives, but desire the other to enjoy theirs. She engendered the golf trip and ensuniated that I meet up at the lake later in the evening. Even I thought the prospect of all of these activities as doubtful, but we planned it.
The Colonial was a great opportunity to share some father son time with the pops. He's been a hack golfer his whole life and knows of the game and its history as many avid golfers do. He was happy to go, but was hesitant about scalping. I rolled my eyes and said, "pops I got it". As we turned onto University I jumped out of the car and had two tickets for 80 bucks where face value was 50 a piece. He was content and paid a gentleman in front of the club house 50 bucks to park in their lawn. Sweet.
I'll say I had a little more energy than would be expected of a cancer boy. As we walked in I bought pops a lemonade and asked who he wanted to follow, he stated Zack Johnson. I simply asked, "dad, why Zack?" He looked at me with a square face and said, cause he won the Masters when nobody believed in him." I gave him a look that said, yeah I respect that in a man:)
I drug him over the front nine following Zack playing with David Toms and the God aweful Sergio Garcia. Its the equivelant of watching an indi car race while watching a turtle race simultaneously on the same track! If you know then you know what that means:)
Good golf, great venue coupled with a good sweat. I think I walked a little too long and fast for him, but pops was a trooper. We watched the boys finish up then headed to our car.
As we were grabbing our keys from the young girl at the house where our car was parked she spoke of her sister who was battling cancer and that they were raising funds for her. Bill, notoriously, jumped in and attempted to put my story at the for front. I calmly said, pops, not today, and to the young girl said, good luck our prayers are with you. Another unfortunate victim of this disease. I hope she does well.
Our drive home was quiet and quick considering it was Friday on I-30 in Forth Worth. I received a text from Alex requesting that I meet her and her friend at the lake in a hour. Up front was like, dam I've been going since 6:30 this morning, but I quickly grabbed a pair and said I'ld drop my father off and meet her there.
I would be meeting one of Alex's good guy friends who is a Judge in FW and very successful. Affluent, but not adentatious and yeah he has a sweet ski boat:) I've never turned down an opportunity to go to the lake and at this point in my life it sounded perfect, plus I needed a little bit of my utopia, Alexandra.
I met them at a Marina about 15 min from our house in Azle and spent the next two hours shooting the preverbial poo with Tim, her frined and admiring my woman's pazaz for life. She's tough, driven, and determined and whom I'm indebted to. Great times. It was only respectful to take Tim out to dinner afterward for a short bite and brew. I only hand half of one:) Good fellowship with a great ending to and even better day.
During dinner I look at Alex and see a sweet smile filled face with watery eyes. She show's me an email she just revcieved from her new CEO Joe. Joe has a daughter who herself had to battle cancer in the past. The email is a picture she drew of her and I standing together with red stop sign crossed out labeled, "Cancer not Allowed." Wow the gravity was tangible from this young girl who niether of us have met. In brevity, its another validation of our lives crossing and how our partnership is meant to be. Too deep to dive into this late at night, but the beauty of a child is compelling to say the least.
Wow, its 12:30 and my day is finally coming to an end with me laying in bed happier every minute. The only thing on my mind is how tomorrow will play out, the lives I will interact with and new things I will learn. I told you cancer isn't that bad:)
Open your eyes today, expand your appeture 10 degrees more, soak something in you might have neglected and realize today is now....Enjoy it for that that is in your hands.
Some see opportunity and chance as just that, a fleeting moment in time when your time to act is small, however few realize you can manifest and create your own opportunities and triumphs with an open mind. Never fear the unknown and constantly challenge yourself, you will be pleased.
Cheers,
The top pic is Bill and I at the Colonial. The drawing is self explanatory and I'll call the gay pic in the mirror, resistance!
Andy
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