Memorial Day - What are you planning?

 Recently, my daughter and I visited one of Phoenix's oldest cemetery, Greenwood. Five years ago, one of our self-adopted children passed and being from a very Chinese family, they adhere to traditional customs. When we first visited Greenwood a year after his passing, we were appalled there was no headstone or ever a marker for his grave. two years later I visited it again and still not markings. On this visit, we saw his family finally had a very nice headstone placed on his grave. My daughter and I broke down. She was a good friend of his since high school and Nancy and I love this goofy Chinese kid that no home life but enjoyed joining our family on any occasion we had.

Memorial Day is not only for remembering veterans, but anyone that means anything to you and that no longer with us. I am especially proud that our citizens rally around veterans, active and non-active, to pay tribute to their service and sacrifices they made to keep our country safe and free.

During the Viet Nam conflict when I entered the military, veterans were not appreciated. We were spit on and cussed at for servicing. That is why, unless I had to, I did not travel in uniform, and ever today don't wear any veteran attire like t-shirts or caps. My first airplane ride was to boot camp in Amarillo Texas.

Again during the Viet Nam era, killed soldiers' families were notified with just a telegram delivered by mail or a taxi, until a wife of an Army Colonel was so upset and rallied the families together to make it more personal and caring. Afterwards, families were notified by military personal, in uniform to not only notify the family, but to help comfort them from the shock of losing their relative. Organizations like the VFW , and the American Legion also try to comfort the families  during those times. It hasn't been until 9-11 that our country has paid so much attention to veterans, first responders for their service. We thank you for that. It has been a long time coming, because I am both, a vet and retired first responder. I sometime get embarrassed when someone says, "Thank you for your service.". I served because that is what you should do, not because of the attention. I am proud I was able and I believe most Vets and first responders would say the same. Anyway, every, EVERY male on my father's side served in the military from 1776 up to myself, and we are proud to have done that.

So Memorial Day and the weekend is not just about grilling some hot dogs and hamburgers, and going to a lake and boating, but to pay tribute to the one gone with a visit, maybe flowers or just to say their names in honor and gratitude.

Next time you see a uniformed service member or a police offer or a firefighter, or a nurse/doctor in scrubs, maybe pay for their lunch or coffee and just say, "Thank you." They will get it and appreciate you understanding what they are doing and continue doing for ALL of us. But also remember your relatives too. They ALL should never be forgotten by us. Take care and stay safe.

Do you have To-Do-List or a Bucket list?

 The answer is, Yes I do! I believe everyone does and probably half of them never get finished. I have some things for years and maybe decades. Eventho we built this house 27 years ago and Nancy and I designed it, we were here every step of the way during construction. I even helped the constructor as one of the carpenter laborers swing hammers and laid tile, plumbing, so we could save money. And I learned alot. But now after building it 27 years ago, we see some things differently and want to change things, which we can't do or don't want to do. So we are going to call in the professionals and let them do the heavy lifting. 

After Nancy came home from Cornwall England yesterday from her 60 mile in 5 days of hiking, she said she had plenty of time to think about things, and one thing she wanted to re-do our master bathroom. I said, "OK, and how much will that cost?" So I had to do some research and it isn't going to be cheap but affordable, because I AM NOT GOING TO MOVE ANYMORE! Anyway, more on that later when we have a idea of what we're going to do.

Back to Nancy's hiking trip. Her, and a dear friend, are planning to do overseas hiking trips in several countries. So far they have done Spain, Scotland and now Cornwall England, on the farthest southern coast of England. Next is another section of the Appalachian Trail in New York state. That will be number 6 out of 12 states. She typically does 1,000 miles hiking a year, which includes the shorter hikes (4 to 10 miles) around our house and the state. Crazy hiker. Meanwhile I just work in my shop on cars. Crazy car builder. 

So we have a "To-do list" for the house and camping and now (which we have had for a while) a "Bucket list" for countries we have not been to. Not to brag, but we have hit all but one continent accept Australia and or New Zealand. Those are on the list now. Covid stopped our New Zealand trip but I think that will be within the next year. Tanzania Africa is coming in August, with quick layovers in Kenya and Qatar. Another LONG flight. "Sigh" But we love Africa.

Not that I think of myself as a famous person in any means, but do want to finish a book I started many years ago about a (not another fire department book) green eyed boy being raised my a divorced single mother in Cincinnati in the 50s and 60s. Guess who? And some of the plans he had about life and moved around so much and finally found his focus in life. AND, fell on his face MANY, MANY times before he did. 

I am going to make this short today. Hope you comment about your 'To-Dos' or trips. I'd love to hear about them and how you all are doing in this mixed up world. But here are some of the photos Nancy sent me from the UK on her hike last week. Take care and stay safe.

Yep, BIG boulders to climb over. And wild horses too.

Beautiful sea shores and more boulders.

And two lovely, hearty ladies living their dreams. Proud of them both, but mostly Nancy.

Day 3.

I have SO many questions.

First I want to say, Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers out there. And to thank them for their love, strength, and sensibility while raising children, and putting up with us husbands  and dads.

OK, now to my questions. I know you have had questions that some may laugh at, but go ahead and ask them. A teacher I had many, MANY years ago once said, " Some people think if someone ask a question, you are questioning that person knowledge or intelligence." It is not that at all. Of course it maybe the case for President Trump. But he does not like to be questioned, AT ALL!

I have always been curious about a lot of things and topics. They may seem ridiculous to some, but I want to know 'why'. And I still have quite a few more. 

• Why are the people who teach our children (K-12) paid less than college instructors?
• Why can't we treat each other with respect, no matter what the situation?
• Why are we SO bombarded with ads? From looking up something on Google to sides of buses, to more than half of our mail, to so many TV and movie commercials to everywhere.
• Why do people have to have 24 news? 7 to 9 AM, noon until 1 PM, 4 until 7 PM and again at 10 or 11 PM. And mostly it is the same as the previous reports. And mostly what the media focuses on is crime and horror. And it seems movies and TV series do the same. I figure, if it is something I need to know, I'll get the message sooner or later. People must love killers, blood and drama. I do too, but not all the time.
• Why do girls (young and old) scream at movies, concerts, celebrations. Yelling I understand, but screaming, especially in my ear? I mean just blasting from the feet to their vocal chords. As I clap at those times, they are screaming and looking at me, like to say, "Why aren't you screaming too?" I am a guy and only scream when I close my fingers in the car door. And it is usually bad words anyway. Like 'darn' or 'heck'. OK, maybe not.
• And here is the 'BIGGY' Why does Trump think the President has ALL the power in the world and can sidestep the law, courts to do whatever he dislikes or disagrees with? The law IS THE LAW FOR EVERYONE.  Is it, 1.) that he just does not care or 2.)  he just stupid and being feed bad info, or 3.) does not care about the small people like us? I think it is all three, especially No. 3. "Kids don't need 30 dolls, they would be fine with 3."  Quote unquote. Out of his mouth.  That is not his choice as President. Just because he had 30 dolls as a child, does not mean other kids can't.

These are just some of my unanswered questions. Silly as they may seem, I wonder about them. Maybe not really. 

For those of you wanting to know how I feel. I am doing well, or as expected. Some side effects, most inconveniences, but good. I like this statement, "My diagnosis does not define me." One more treatment on this coming Wednesday and then test to see how the chemo performed. I have faith this position of my life journey will be concluded. 

If you are like most, you have seen we have a new Pope "Bob'. Oops, I probably should call him Pope Leo, the first American Pope since the, well, forever. And I believe one that will tell Trump he is wrong is all of his stupid moves. I am not catholic, but I respect those who are.

So until the next time, Take care, stay safe and follow this blog, oh and leave your comments.

5 down and hopefully, 1 more to go.

 Actually, the 5 infusions I have had went fairly fast and discounting the few inconveniences, it wasn't all that bad. I have seen some other patients come in looking like they just about to pass now. Older people, middle aged, but the heartbreakers are the very young and teens. They have SO much to live for. But fortunately the medical community has advanced so quickly today, more and more are not only surviving cancer, but live to a elderly age.

Yeah, I have had some inconveniences like wearing a pump on my belt two days after the infusion with a another chemo drug contently going to my veins.  A little hair loss, pins and needles in my fingers every time I reach into the refrigerator to get the milk, slight loss of feeling in my fingers, some lack of energy, and sleeping in my recliner for two nights while I wear the pump. But you know, it's all OK because I believe all will be fine in a couple months, all these things will eventually go away. I do hope the hair grows back . LOL! What the hell, it is only hair, right?

Wearing a pump has caused me to do things much more mythical than I use to do things. Well one is I wear out faster working on cars, and I have to think how and where I am moving around things so I don't catch the tubing going into my upper chest does not get pulled out or tangled or crimped. Getting dressed in the morning is always fun figuring where and how to route the tubing for that days activity, which usually means crawling under, in, or around a car which has things that would love to grab the tubing. It's interesting for sure. SO many other cancer patients have it far worse than I do. I still feel I am lucky. The simple things you take for granite become more complicated and frustrating. So far I have not simply flipped out over it all, and keep my wits about me, and NEVER took it out on Nancy and anyone else. 

Oh, Nancy, my dream wife. I really hit the jackpot with her. No pity, none of this, "OH Honey how are you feeling today?" Always encouragement, positive thoughts and no complaining about my grumbling, just a smile and a nod of the head like, "You'll get it." She has been SO great, and has for 48 years now. I ask myself, how did she put up with me this long?

I know I have told you this story about a young lieutenant in the Civil War what he wrote to his young wife after he had his leg amputated from a wound. He thought he was so bad off with one leg and believed he would be nothing more a crunch dependent cripple, until a man was laid on the cot next to him who no legs at all, who eventually would die laying there. There is ALWAYS someone worse off than you. Our fire department, and many, many more departments have lost so many members from cancer. I feel SO lucky to be just one of the lucky.

If you know someone who is suffering with any type of serious medical issue, support them through encouragement, visits with jokes and helping them to do fun things in getting their mind off the negatives and onto the positives. Our department has done so much for us retirees with their support to all of us. We should all the do same, as much as you can. We are all in the same race, the HUMAN RACE. 

Thank you again for reading my simple babblings. I really appreciate and love your comments and send you all love and hope for this country. Follow my simple writings, take care and stay safe.

The photo below is something I saw on the corner and it made me smile.