Scott

Three months already?

I used to feel that I was in a race for Pink Slips between cancer and retirement. If cancer wins, it owns my retirement – and this body of mine!

If retirement wins, cancer may still be lurking, but, Yay! I’ve made it to that reward most working people are working towards. Allegedly, the Golden Years, time to enjoy life. My life has been awesome – can it get better in retirement?

I was telling anyone who asked, that now (retired), I am busier than ever; until I realized that was not accurate. I have always been busier than ever. But, each weekday (sometimes more) I had to stop doing my stuff, set it aside and put in 8 hours (sometimes more) doing other people’s stuff. I would get back to my stuff as time allowed.

Now that I’m retired, time allows all my stuff, every item on all of my to-do lists, to crowd in close, jump up and down, wave arms and shout, “Do me! Do me!” Because they know I no longer have to stop and go to work – I’m retired – I’ve got nothing but time.

Doctors, doctors, doctors:

I enjoyed legendary biscuits and gravy at the hospital cafe before my appointment with my ear-nose-throat doctor. I am still clearing my throat – maybe overall not quite as often as before – it’s hard to tell.

He wondered out loud about the possibility of my throat clearing being automatic or habit now. I told him that I’m certain I have nearly constant sinus draining, even when my sinuses feel clear, and that when I do clear my throat, there is something there. I can feel it.

He said most everyone does that, it’s normal. But I might have over sensitive nerves in my throat that compel me to continually clear it. He announced that there is a medicine for this, and he has had patients in my exact situation who have had good success with it.

I’m thinking are you kidding? Why has this not been mentioned before today? Patients in my exact situation? I repeated suspiciously. Good success? I echoed. Yes, he confirmed. The medicine is Gabapentin, a drug prescribed to me a couple years ago in an attempt to relieve the peripheral neuropathy symptoms in my feet.

It might make you sleepy, he warned. Rather annoyed at the thought of another medication to make me sleepy, I asked, Isn’t there a drug whose side effect would make me more alert, make my mind and my vision sharper, and give me a boost of energy? “Yes, there is,” he answered, “It’s called amphetamines.”

Although Gabapentin might work on the symptoms and not the cause of the symptoms, it was the only offer of possible help I’ve had. I began taking it (again) daily and it did make me feel kind of drugged.

After two weeks I saw no change in the throat clearing. I called the doctor and said I’d like to quit the Gabapentin. He suggested doubling down instead – taking three doses daily instead of two. I did that for two more weeks with no change in symptoms.

When I reported that, he said it was time for the BIG GUNS: Doxycycline, twice a day for 90 days. If I have chronic sinus infection, that should take care of it. I’m now about halfway through the 90 days. I’d like to say it’s helping, so I will say it might be helping a little.

I saw my heart doctor not long ago, it was a routine 6-month check with nothing to report. Not long after that appointment, I began noticing an annoying pressure that would come and go in the middle of my chest. I told the doctor about it and now I’m on the calendar for another stress test (with nuclear imaging).

I made it to another 3-month visit with my oncologist. My blood tests were good, showing only one concern, a high glucose score, winning me an appointment with another doctor to look into that.

In a break between doctor visits, inspired by my nephew, John Paul, my wife and I purchased an electric car. Imagine a comfortable, two-seater, front wheel drive, supercharged electric go-kart.

That’s how it feels, ELECTRIFYING FUN! It was an adventure driving a short-range urban run-about purchased in Washington to our home in Oregon. You can read about it here if you’d like.

High Card Again

I had my three-month Multiple Myeloma cancer check recently. I had a blood draw for lab work a few days prior.

I once watched Emma, a high school girl, sink more than twenty baskets in a row. She warmed up by sinking ten hoops, missed one and started over, sinking one-handed shots one after another until I lost count. She seemed unstoppable.

Each time the three-month mark approaches on my cancer watch cycle, I wonder again – how many consecutive times can I “swish” with favorable test results? How many times can I draw the high card without fail? I can do it for the rest of my life!

Walking out the door after church recently, a young lady ahead of me turned around and smiled. I said, “I know you, but don’t remember how.” She answered, “I treated you.”

I’ve had a few treatments, so I asked her politely, trying not to sound like a smart-ass, “Where did you treat me?” “At St Vincent’s.” “Yes!” I said. “Radiation Therapy! I remember you! Thank you.” It was so good to see her again, especially there at Athey Creek Christian Fellowship.

A retirement Gift Lift from my wife, Diane

And, when I finish getting dressed, I will go out to the shop, walk under that Chevy, and finally replace the “Roulette Wheel” fuel pump (Roulette because if it stops on just the right spot – it leaks).

Since I had the labs done in advance, I was able to see my cancer test results online just before seeing the doctor. There are many categories in the tests results and they continue to be reported in Medical Greek, but I saw no spikes or nose-dives in the numbers.

The doctor confirmed my suspicions that the test results were good. I have nearly three months before I cut the deck again. I remain thankful to God for a life overflowing with blessings.

Back To Undetectable

Friday, September 7^th was my last day on the job. The Wednesday evening prior, I got a haircut, the first in about two years. I was ready for a change.

I told the barber I wanted to keep the ponytail. I brought it home and hot-melt glued it into my work hat.

The co-worker sitting nearest me the next morning at the daily briefing looked suspiciously at my hair below the hat line. He made scissors with his fingers and ran them near his ear (our local sign language for you got haircut?).

I turned my head so he could see the ponytail. He shrugged and returned his attention to the meeting. Our crew leader was telling us we could expect some real changes around here in the very near future, “Big changes coming soon to Public Works.”

I stood up and announced to all that I was ready for a change right now! I pulled off my hat (with ponytail attached) and I thought those guys were going to fall out of their chairs. The faces before me expressed TOTAL SHOCK! Jaws dropped to release hoots and gasps! That was fun!

The next day, my last on the job, I enjoyed a great barbecue lunch with soon to be former co-workers. Along with cards and gifts, handshakes, hugs, and well wishes, I was presented a unique lamp made mostly from a water meter and meter box lid. I also received a dump truck load of my favorite drink – Mt Dew.

Clarification: Okay, it was a load, and it was in a dump truck.

The following evening, my wife, Diane said we were going out for pizza. It turned out to be a surprise retirement party with family and friends.

The best surprise was my son and granddaughter flying here and attending both parties. I enjoyed seeing everyone, and I sincerely appreciated all the cards and gifts, handshakes, hugs, and well wishes.

It occurred to me that the act of retiring is a bit like the act of getting married. You can get married quietly at a courthouse, go home and say, “Okay, we’re married;” or, you can have an unforgettable celebration of a lifetime with family and friends.

When you retire, you can go home after your last day on the job and say, “I’m retired now,” or you can celebrate with family and friends and make it a meaningful occasion.

The second-best surprise at the pizza party was Diane’s gift: a lift. Not a ride home – a car hoist. I, a humble back yard mechanic, will be able to stand upright under a car to work on it (or just to enjoy the view).

Years ago, I came very close to buying a lift. It would have cleaned out my hobby account, but I would have recovered. Before I ordered it, I was diagnosed with cancer. Someone asked me, “Do you really want to leave that nice of a gift for Diane’s next husband?”

I saw my Radiation Oncology doctor today (Sept 18^th). The Aid who came out to escort me to the exam room looked confused when she approached. She said she almost didn’t recognize me, “You shaved your beard….. Wasn’t your hair longer? Did you get younger?”

I had blood drawn and tested in advance; the doctor pronounced me (my PSA) “Back to undetectable.” Back to my favorite diagnosis. He said to test again in six months. Smiling, he confirmed reports of a most memorable radiation patient in Wonder Woman underwear.

Must Take Next Exit

It was wonderful to have our son, Robin, and his family visit us in July. In August, we drove across the country and had a real nice visit with our son, Brandon, and his family. There we met and held our newest grandson, Desmond.

On our round trip – road trip, we encountered many (many!) road construction zones, each introducing themselves with bright signage:

Every year at this time, my job duties include Large Water Meter Testing with the professional we always hire, Meter Dave with Oregon Meter Repair. If large meters are not measuring accurately, they give away a lot of free water (they give away money).

I always look forward to working with Dave, but each time I put the meter testing schedule on the calendar, I see warning signs right there on the bottom left corner of August. Signs cautioning me that summer is circling the drain and change is as close as flipping that time-table page.

This year I found new signs on the highway of life.

We’ve worked our last ten-hour work day (on our summer schedule). Monday we’re off work for Labor Day. I will work four more eight-hour days, take the Retirement Exit and end my working career.

Some ask if I’m excited. Apprehensive might be a better word.

Some warn me not to sit around and get bored. There’s no chance of that.

Some might be concerned that I could become depressed. If I haven’t encountered depression through three cancers (does a re-occurrence count as a fourth?) it probably won’t happen with retirement.

For years, I felt there was some kind of competition between Multiple Myeloma and Prostate Cancer (and a minor skin cancer), to bring about my demise. It felt like a race towards retirement. Retirement not being the finish line, but more like a reward for making it that far.

I was tempted to work a little longer, maybe a year. I can walk to work, a monthly paycheck and insurance is nice, and I’m good at what I do. But, I’ve reached my normal retirement age, there is no reason not to retire, and with Prostate cancer making a come-back, I’m taking this exit.