Wednesday, October 24, 2007
49 and counting...
Yes, today is my 49th birtday! We'll be celebrating by going out to dinner and then going to the musical, 'Annie'. I hope everyone likes it, I think Abbey and Julie will but I'm a little worried about Aaron. He did like 'Wicked' so I guess there's hope. The tickets to the show were actually a birthday gift for Abbey, it just worked out that the best night to do was tonight - so we'll celebrate both birthdays.
This weekend we're heading up to UD for Family Weekend. Judd says he has a big surprise for us; I can't imagine what it is. He's mentioned it several times so he's pretty proud of himself. I guess I'll have to report back following the weekend.
Nice to see all the hot weather out of here...now if it would only quit raining! I remember my birthday in 1975 was a lot like today. My high school football team had played in Massillon the night before and it rained the entire day. The next day, we drove home and it was cold and damp, just like today. Ironically, the Boston Red Sox were playing in the World Series back then, too. Their opponents, the Cincinnati Reds. Game Six was supposed to be played the night of October 24 but it was cancelled due to rain and was played a couple nights later....that was the game which featured Carlton Fisk's dramatic home run and has often been called the greatest World Series game of all time. I believe it was actually played on October 26. I'm sure any of you reading this outside of Cincinnati could care less but for those of you who grew up following the Big Red Machine, I'm sure you'll all remember where you were that night. Well I can do it one better because I remember where I was the day the game was actually supposed to be played....on a bus heading down I-71 hoping to get home in time to watch game 6 of the 1975 World Series....which as we now know was postponed for two days.
Hope all is well!
This weekend we're heading up to UD for Family Weekend. Judd says he has a big surprise for us; I can't imagine what it is. He's mentioned it several times so he's pretty proud of himself. I guess I'll have to report back following the weekend.
Nice to see all the hot weather out of here...now if it would only quit raining! I remember my birthday in 1975 was a lot like today. My high school football team had played in Massillon the night before and it rained the entire day. The next day, we drove home and it was cold and damp, just like today. Ironically, the Boston Red Sox were playing in the World Series back then, too. Their opponents, the Cincinnati Reds. Game Six was supposed to be played the night of October 24 but it was cancelled due to rain and was played a couple nights later....that was the game which featured Carlton Fisk's dramatic home run and has often been called the greatest World Series game of all time. I believe it was actually played on October 26. I'm sure any of you reading this outside of Cincinnati could care less but for those of you who grew up following the Big Red Machine, I'm sure you'll all remember where you were that night. Well I can do it one better because I remember where I was the day the game was actually supposed to be played....on a bus heading down I-71 hoping to get home in time to watch game 6 of the 1975 World Series....which as we now know was postponed for two days.
Hope all is well!
Thursday, October 04, 2007
Two years Later...
As you can see in the title block, it was two years ago today that I found out I had non-Hodgkins Lymphoma. Seems hard to believe that it's been that long. I know we've been through a lot, had our ups and downs but through it all I've tried to remain upbeat and not feel sorry for myself. I've tried to keep our lives as normal as possible. I realize that the lymphoma could come back at anytime; that thought is always in the back of my mind and it's hard not to dwell on it. But I've found that as long as I keep myself active and involved in things, it helps keep my mind off the negatives.
I've had a lot of great support. Julie and the kids have been wonderful. So have many of our relatives and close friends. That means a great deal to me. I remember not long after I was diagnosed I met with a man named, Chuck Scheper. I didn't know Chuck but he called out of the blue one day to offer his support. Ten years earlier he had battled the same type of lymphoma and he wanted to let me know that I could beat it. I arranged to get together with Chuck and during the course of our conversation I made the comment that I was just looking forward to my life returning to how it was prior to being diagnosed. Chuck paused and then said, "That's not going to happen. It's been over 10 years for me and my life was changed forever the day I learned I had lymphoma." Chuck's comment was very eye-opening and I realized he was probably right, life would never be like it was prior to October 4, 2005. But I have to say, Julie and the kids, our family and friends have been wonderful in the way they have helped me get through this. My life may have been changed but the way we live our lives hasn't and that's a credit to all the people who I'm blessed to go through life with.
So I've reached another October 4th. I really don't know that I want to celebrate the anniversary of the day I found out I had cancer but then again, I certainly hope I'm around for many, many, many more October 4ths. In that regard, I guess it is worth celebrating! Two years ago I found out I had lymphoma; this afternoon I'm going to go out and ref a freshman football game. What a difference two years make.
Pece and Blessings to all!
Vince
I've had a lot of great support. Julie and the kids have been wonderful. So have many of our relatives and close friends. That means a great deal to me. I remember not long after I was diagnosed I met with a man named, Chuck Scheper. I didn't know Chuck but he called out of the blue one day to offer his support. Ten years earlier he had battled the same type of lymphoma and he wanted to let me know that I could beat it. I arranged to get together with Chuck and during the course of our conversation I made the comment that I was just looking forward to my life returning to how it was prior to being diagnosed. Chuck paused and then said, "That's not going to happen. It's been over 10 years for me and my life was changed forever the day I learned I had lymphoma." Chuck's comment was very eye-opening and I realized he was probably right, life would never be like it was prior to October 4, 2005. But I have to say, Julie and the kids, our family and friends have been wonderful in the way they have helped me get through this. My life may have been changed but the way we live our lives hasn't and that's a credit to all the people who I'm blessed to go through life with.
So I've reached another October 4th. I really don't know that I want to celebrate the anniversary of the day I found out I had cancer but then again, I certainly hope I'm around for many, many, many more October 4ths. In that regard, I guess it is worth celebrating! Two years ago I found out I had lymphoma; this afternoon I'm going to go out and ref a freshman football game. What a difference two years make.
Pece and Blessings to all!
Vince
