Making the World a Better Place to Be
With a lot of help from my friends – particularly Mrs. tVM, youngest son Jesse and his wife Erica, and friends Dwight and Halen – we see the fruits of our labors. My broken leg has kept me on the sidelines, but together, my inner circle has collectively prepared the land, put in irrigation, seeded, …
Continue reading “Getting By with a Little Help from My Friends”
Lesson #6 It’s okay to cry… it’s better to laugh The day I learned that I have cancer, I was driving from my urologist’s office to Dwight’s for supper. Marie and I were in between houses; she and Clarence were staying in the Phoenix area with Brad, Felicia, and the kids, and I was staying …
Continue reading “Dealing with Cancer #6, It’s Okay to Cry… It’s Better to Laugh”
Lesson #5 Pray The power of prayer is obvious in each of our lives whether or not you are free, open, and willing to acknowledge it. For years on our home page, we have featured a quote from the late Irish poet, writer, and spiritualist John O’Donohue. “Prayer is the presence that holds harmony in …
Lesson #4 A reliable support system is mandatory. Despite how physically, mentally, and spiritually tough you think you are, you cannot face this challenge alone. In his 2017 life manual Make Your Bed, Admiral William McRaven discusses 10 things that ‘can change your life and maybe the world.’ Number 2 on his list is ‘You …
Continue reading “Dealing with Cancer #4, You Can’t Go It Alone”
Lesson #3 Chemotherapy is not fun, and its effects are cumulative. Don’t be lulled after the first or second infusion into thinking, “This isn’t that bad.” Be prepared for the physical, mental, and spiritual challenge that will grow more intense with each session. Regimens and side effects are different from one person to the next, …
Lesson #2 There is no substitute for PSA testing when a man reaches 40 years old. Knowing his PSA level at that stage in a man’s life and beyond is MANDATORY along with the digital exam for early detection and treatment. Based on my primary care team’s prostate assessment in January 2022, I considered myself …
I have cancer. It is aggressive. I am convinced that I have been made clean like the leper in the Gospels, but I am engaged in chemotherapy. It is not fun, but I am blessed with the strength to endure it. I learned about my condition in September 2022, eight days short of my 73rd …
I’ve been communicating for several hours since early this morning with my three closest contacts in Haiti. It started with Benoit who always begins each conversation asking about my health and my family and friends. His next statement was chilling. “The bandits are trying to kill me.” Justin confirmed the fear and urgency in Benoit’s …
Chico is a handyman. He tackles many jobs many people in America will not because the job is below their station in life or because the pay is not enough. Some days, he works with James as a farmhand. Some weeks, he is very busy. Other weeks, he is not so busy. His needs are few. …
