September 19, 2010

It has been almost two weeks since I last wrote in this blog and I hope everyone hasn't given up on me!

I finally went shopping and bought some new clothes. I was happy to learn that I can now buy clothes off the rack and don't have to have them altered. I guess I now have what is considered a normal build. It has been a long time since I could fit into a size 35 pants and a 41 sports coat. I hope I can stay around this shape but I need to add a lot of muscle since I am still very weak.

I am attaching a picture of me dressed up to attend the SC Silver Haired Legislature session last week. I have been a member of this organization for 4-5 years and every year we have a session in the chambers of the House of Representatives at the Capital. During the year we work on resolutions that benefit the elderly in our local caucus groups and we then work out a final slate to present to the General Assembly and the Governor. It is a long slow process to turn these resolutions into new laws but we have been very successful. I enjoyed the sessions last week but I did get very tired after 3 days of meetings.

I am also attaching a picture of my daughter, Tana (Tanya) that was taken during her 26 mile marathon walk for the Avon Cure for Breast Cancer event that took place on her birthday, September 11. The sign on her backside says that she is walking for her dad who has esophageal cancer. Through a lot of hard work, she collected over $3700 and her team of 7 girls collected over $19,000 for this cause. I am very proud of her accomplishment! She sent me the hat that I am wearing in one of the attached pictures. She was given this hat when she reached $2500 toward her $3600 goal. I am touched that Tana dedicated this walk to me!

Last weekend I had visits from 2 friends/associates from my days at Eaton/Westinghouse. Bob McGarvey and his wife Marilyn stopped in on their way from Cincinnati to Hilton Head and Mike Romine and wife Debby drove down from their home near the NC/SC border. Mike is in the process of healing from a very bad accident and we compared scars and stories. I think that Mike looks better than I feel. It was great seeing my old friends again.

On Tuesday, I have to go back to Charleston to see the doctors at MUSC about the small cancer that I have on one of my kidneys. I also hope to find out more about the spot they found on my lung when I had a CT scan here in Columbia. I hope that they can remove the cancer on my kidney without my having to go through chemo/radiation again. I also hope that the spot on my lung is just some scar tissue. I'm really not up to to another long set of procedures.

I really hated to miss my high school reunion but it was the right call. I really wasn't up to it. Some of my classmates sent me a very nice card and email pictures that were taken at the reunion. I understand that there are plans for another "Classes of 1950" reunion in 2 years and I hope to be able to attend.

I guess that's about it for now. I have been feeling better since I had the stent removed from my esophagus and am eating a little better. I still don't have much of an appetite but some foods are beginning to taste better.

Our cats are still keeping us entertained and providing 'fur power' to my recovery.