In my world these days, no news is good news. Nothing exciting has happened in the last few days and there is nothing to report. I got a call from Scott Lunin, who read a prior blog and called because he wanted to know what color my flem is...(clear). The conversation went like this: "Hey Tom, its Scott again. What color is your flem?"I'm telling you...this doctor is on top of things! I will see Scott tomorrow for our final chemo treatment. He is completely ignoring me on the Rotary invitation thing...but I'll keep after him.
Radiation goes on as usual. I am counting down the days to the end of these treatments because it is starting to get uncomfortable. I had my normal breakfast this morning and a late lunch at Amimoto, where Yoko works. I did not have much of an appetite this evening. Yoko made clam chowder. I had that and watermelon for dinner. By the end of the day I am very tired and just want to go home and rest. Last night I was in bed at 9:30 PM and slept until 8 AM. I felt better this morning but I still have a low level of energy. I worked until 5:30PM and came home.
I am starting to feel guilty about being as well as I am right now. I've got all you readers of this blog upset and praying for me...and I appreciate your prayers, but you may want to save some for if and when I REALLY need them.
I was saying to Yoko tonight that I kinda feel like Larry David, who stars in the HBO sitcom "Curb Your Enthusiam. " In one episode he "discovers" that telling people "my mother died" is the perfect excuse to get out of anything he doesn't want to do. Someone calls up and invites him to a party; he doen't want to go so he says, "I can't...my mother died." No one blames him for staying home. In the episode Larry uses "my mother died" to get anything he wants or to get out of doing anything he does not want to do.
Along the same lines, "I have been diagnosed with inoperable lung cancer" should be a great get out of jail free card. The best part of this is I am not in declining health at this stage, so now would be the time to play the cancer card. I will have to think about ways to use it!
Aunt Sue called to say hello to Yoko. Yoko was very happy to get the call and just chat. She also got a call from Linda Oppe (who did not want to talk with me) and from my sister Peggy(who also did not want to talk with me). Its good you are calling Yoko. She is not well represented on this blog and she can use the support. Yoko and my girls are the ones that is going to need help and support. Not me. I feel terrible for them that they have to go through this.
Yoko wants me to keep this blog honest and not to write for an audience. I am worried about having my heart out on my selve for the world to see. I don't want to embarass my mother, so I have avoided swear words and profanity. To be honest, I would have chosen different language for my "Don't Screw with Me" tee shirt....
I must say it is very nice to get comments and notes from my sisters and my children; at this stage, it appears, I can say or do no wrong. Did you notice? No one disagrees with anything I have to say. hmmm....
[Cue the tuba]...bum bum bum...ba da da da...bah da bah dahhh
12 comments:
A lot of people I know hav a t-shirt that says, "Cancer Sucks." Maybe I should get you that for Christmas. hmmm.
I agree with Yoko, don't write for an audience. I seems as though you've been honest in your writing, if maybe only a little tame in the language department. That's ok because we can fill in the blank ourselves. I think of Yoko all the time. I will call to chat with her soon. We leave for the lake tommarrow and I catch up with her this weekend.
xo
j
FINALLY! A new entry. Once again, I agree with everything. Thanks for the pep talk earlier today XOXO Paula
Tom, you are really a funny guy...these blogs give me great insight to how your mind works. I think of Yoko and the girls all the time. I hate this!
When I tuned in this morning and saw the picture I thought "Wow ... the chemo took all of his hair". Glad you mentioned Larry David!
I wouldn't worry too much about self-censorship. I don't know if you remember, but you were the first one to drop the F-Bomb on Mom when we were kids -- it was in a punchline to a joke you told, and I remember the shocked reaction. I think Janie punched you. That might even pre-date Mom using "shit" in front of us (like when she dropped that fabled lasagna- she said it .. we all were thinking it).
As you said, No news is good news, I guess. I was thinking last night that I should clue in the Drs here in Boston about your blog, with the point being "see how good a Doctor can be?"
Now that I think about it, maybe it would be a good idea to clue in the oncology dept at BID ... they might recommend it to their patients who are just undergoing similar treatment as a way of a reality check. What do you guys think?
I remember that joke...about the kamakazi pilots of imperial Japan!
Today, you go on most dangerous mission...(the old Cheech and Chong routine)...today, you go high up into sky, dive down on American aircraft arrier...killing yourself and everyone aboard. Now, before most cerimonious sake toast...are there any questions. Hai...Matsumoto in the back.
General Sir....you out of your f---ing mind!
Hehehe ... yup, that was the one!
Tom, I too admire your honesty but not your spelling. Seriously...flem? You mean like the Flemish people of Belgium? Which led to immediate questions: Why is there a Flem in the house? When you say clear, do you mean invisible? And shouldn't your doctor be concerned with the Italian guy under his care rather than a Flem who may or may not be there?
Perhaps you meant PHLEGM.
No matter. Here's to you, Yoko & children, the imaginary Flem, your candor, and your spell checker.
E
Eric:
Phlegm -- Yeah...that's an easy one to spell. And the thing is...I use it so often, how could I have spelled it wrong? All these years I have been reading PHLEGM everywhere and wondering how to pronounce it... Phil egg Em?
Let's face it. My spelling is better -- substiture ph for f, drop the silent g and we are there...FLEM...not to be confused with Belgians...or is it Beljins?
Okay, I'll grant you phlegm is a tricky one, but now you are telling jokes and leaving holes in the punch line. You have a word with dashes in it! Excuse me, what am I supposed to do, fill in the blanks? Is this Wheel of Fortune?
If I'm confused, I suspect everyone is.
Tehre wsa a sutdy taht siad hmuans cluod raed aynhting sa lnog sa teh frist nad lsat ltters wree ni odrer. Myabe htey'r irght.
Agian, Eirc mdae em luagh out luod!!
(Atlhuogh, I tihnk Tmo's splelnig was mroe lgoiacl)
This is getting too funny!
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