A good day - a bad day!
All wrapped up into one. That was yesterday.
I had a dentist appointment in the morning. Now, I don't mind going to the dentist and this was only for a claning - a no-brainer. However, x-rays revealed a number of new cavities and the need for three (count-em three!) crowns. Now I have not changed my daily dental habits whatsoever. In the past, I had few if any peoblems. All of a sudden, cavities seem to sprout like spring crocuses. The only explanation is that the immuno-suppressent that I take has lowered my immune system enough that I can no longer properly fight off tooth decay.
What to do? The dentist recommended a flouride tray since I am currently using his recommended tooth paste and it does not do the trick. Fun! Fun! Fun! As I will now seem to be living at the dentists's office over the next few months in order to stave off the New Hampshire look of having a mouth with every other tooth missing.
I am grateful to the dentist, however, as I pled my case that my insurance is expected to run out at the end of April when my long term disability ends and my company lays me off. He graciously offered to only charge me for two crowns. I didn't expect it and it was so nice to see that there are still good people in this world.
Now for the good...
We received a gift certificate from my son at Christmas for our local live theater. We used it last night for their production of "42nd Street". I had never seen the show before and it was truly wonderful. You left the theater on an upper. You can't ask for more than that!
Tomorrow morning it's the cancer survivor's breakfast which we are looking forward to while we await the real arrival of Spring. The calendar says it's here but the weather has been cold with a little snow. It seems like every year we never have Spring and this year just keeps the trend going.
Oh well, we can only pray that we'll have a Summer...
Bob
March 23, 2011 11:25 PM
We all die, but we don't all live!
A comment from a TV show that I was watching tonight. They were referring to taking chances with your life in order to make you better understand and appreciate what life is all about. But I think that you can still get that exhilierating feeling by making a contribution toward helping others as well.
This is not meant to be self-serving. The other day I was asked to make another "First Connection" telephone call - easily my 7th or 8th one. When I commented to the co-ordinator that 1 or 2 seemed to be the expected norm - she agreed. But, she said, feedback from the people that I had called was so positive that when someone now requests such a phone call, my name is always surfaces. Believe me when I say that I don't really think that I am some sort of wordsmith here such that I can make people forget their current situation and falsely give them cause for hope. However, I'm glad to hear that people were genuinely happy to get the call. My response to the co-ordinator was that they were all a bunch of liars.
I was totally unaware that each recipient of a call was asked to provide feedback so it was a totally unexpected compliment. I guess that I can only say that God provides because when I make the calls I have no idea what the situation is or how the person is reacting to their diagnosis or what the future may hold in store. Fortunately, they have been realistic people who have put things in perspective and just want some clarity as to what may happen in the future from someone who has been there before.
This blog, the support group that I attend, and the telephone calls that I make have all turned out to be blessings in my life. None of which I would have had without contracting leukemia.
Early on, I had commented on what the intended purpose might be for mygetting this disease - maybe this is part of the answer. But the blessings seem to be coming more my way than going the other way. Then again, that's the way that God always seems to work.
Today, however, did not work out as planned as I was supposed to install a vanity for some friends. But, he has some recent health issues and had to go to the hospital for some tests. At our age, we tend to get very concerned about such things. I can only pray that all turns out well.
Other than that, out to dinner with other friends last night and we are preparing to go to a cancer survivors breakfast Sunday morning and hear from my original New Hampshire doctor who is to be the speaker at the event. She is a marvelous doctor and my wife did not want to miss this opportunity to see her again.
Life continues to be busy for me.
I can only hope that others feel it has been worthwhile...
Bob
A comment from a TV show that I was watching tonight. They were referring to taking chances with your life in order to make you better understand and appreciate what life is all about. But I think that you can still get that exhilierating feeling by making a contribution toward helping others as well.
This is not meant to be self-serving. The other day I was asked to make another "First Connection" telephone call - easily my 7th or 8th one. When I commented to the co-ordinator that 1 or 2 seemed to be the expected norm - she agreed. But, she said, feedback from the people that I had called was so positive that when someone now requests such a phone call, my name is always surfaces. Believe me when I say that I don't really think that I am some sort of wordsmith here such that I can make people forget their current situation and falsely give them cause for hope. However, I'm glad to hear that people were genuinely happy to get the call. My response to the co-ordinator was that they were all a bunch of liars.
I was totally unaware that each recipient of a call was asked to provide feedback so it was a totally unexpected compliment. I guess that I can only say that God provides because when I make the calls I have no idea what the situation is or how the person is reacting to their diagnosis or what the future may hold in store. Fortunately, they have been realistic people who have put things in perspective and just want some clarity as to what may happen in the future from someone who has been there before.
This blog, the support group that I attend, and the telephone calls that I make have all turned out to be blessings in my life. None of which I would have had without contracting leukemia.
Early on, I had commented on what the intended purpose might be for mygetting this disease - maybe this is part of the answer. But the blessings seem to be coming more my way than going the other way. Then again, that's the way that God always seems to work.
Today, however, did not work out as planned as I was supposed to install a vanity for some friends. But, he has some recent health issues and had to go to the hospital for some tests. At our age, we tend to get very concerned about such things. I can only pray that all turns out well.
Other than that, out to dinner with other friends last night and we are preparing to go to a cancer survivors breakfast Sunday morning and hear from my original New Hampshire doctor who is to be the speaker at the event. She is a marvelous doctor and my wife did not want to miss this opportunity to see her again.
Life continues to be busy for me.
I can only hope that others feel it has been worthwhile...
Bob
March 20, 2011 11:55 PM
What a beautiful day - in so many ways!
Weatherwise, for the first day of spring, the sun was out and the temperature was in the 40's. Delightful!
So what did we do?
We went to Boston with some church friends and friends of theirs(very nice people as well) to see our choir director sing in Bach's Mass In B Minor. He was a featured soloist as well. It was a wonderful event. Afterwardswe went to dinner at a local restaurant here in Bedford. It's the first time that we have done anything like this since I was diagnosed and it was simply a very pleasurable experience.
I'm gad that I am still around because it makes it easy for my wife to do these things. A single person just does not have these opportunities as most things are done as couples. Of course, I most certainly enjoy doing these things for myself as well - especially given what the alternative could have been.
Weatherwise, the beautiful springlike day turns into a winterlike day tomorrow as snow(ugh!) returns. Not much, mind you, just enough to let us know that winter has still not fully released its grasp on us as yet.
Healthwise, these days get a little tough on the eyes. Since my major eyedrop medication(to be taken 6 times a day) is refrigerated, I can't take it with me. And... We were gone from 9:30 this morning until 9:00 tonight. I backfill with an over-the-counter eyedrop product but it still does not have the impact of the one from Mass Eye And Ear.
However, I have certainly survived and, as I've stated before, it's just an inconvenience.
A great day that reveals what the good things in life can be all about...
Bob
Weatherwise, for the first day of spring, the sun was out and the temperature was in the 40's. Delightful!
So what did we do?
We went to Boston with some church friends and friends of theirs(very nice people as well) to see our choir director sing in Bach's Mass In B Minor. He was a featured soloist as well. It was a wonderful event. Afterwardswe went to dinner at a local restaurant here in Bedford. It's the first time that we have done anything like this since I was diagnosed and it was simply a very pleasurable experience.
I'm gad that I am still around because it makes it easy for my wife to do these things. A single person just does not have these opportunities as most things are done as couples. Of course, I most certainly enjoy doing these things for myself as well - especially given what the alternative could have been.
Weatherwise, the beautiful springlike day turns into a winterlike day tomorrow as snow(ugh!) returns. Not much, mind you, just enough to let us know that winter has still not fully released its grasp on us as yet.
Healthwise, these days get a little tough on the eyes. Since my major eyedrop medication(to be taken 6 times a day) is refrigerated, I can't take it with me. And... We were gone from 9:30 this morning until 9:00 tonight. I backfill with an over-the-counter eyedrop product but it still does not have the impact of the one from Mass Eye And Ear.
However, I have certainly survived and, as I've stated before, it's just an inconvenience.
A great day that reveals what the good things in life can be all about...
Bob
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