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Hi all,
Well the Nutcracker is over and is was fantastic. I got to see it three times! The first time was on Thursday during the special presentation for Oncology & Hematology patients and their families. Cathie Brown was tireless in her effort to make this show a success and safe for families to "come as they are" and she pulled it off. It was sold out and so amazing (it even made the local news http://www.ksby.com/Global/story.asp?s=9509359). Cathie personally cleaned and prepared the PAC (http://www.pacslo.org/) for the show...I am blessed to call her my friend. The Hearst Cancer Resource Center (see links) was instrumental in getting the tickets to all those who wanted to attend this free performance too. Meghan was beautiful as Clara and Katy was so killer in Snow, Ribbon Dance and Soldier...they continue to inspire me daily. Tommy and I survived as errand boys and Laura was on call to create or deliver all the necessary gifts and accoutrement's needed to pull this off. We love it and the music never gets old so it was labor of love for Laura and I.
On a sad note, my good friend Joel Schnackenberg passed away at the age of 48 after a hunting accident this past week. He was part of our Thursday afternoon men's group & bible study and I will miss him. He was so much fun to be around and his passing reminds me to live life each day with the peace that our Lord has everything in His control...not us. For those who knew Joel, I am sorry and please pray for the entire Schnackenberg family.
Recently, my docs and I have been busy figuring out lab issues and medications and so on. Bottom line, I am improving and have been given the green light to golf and surf. Too much rain lately, so I will wait until the ocean cleans up a little (I am a surfer at heart but not that stupid-ha ha) but the clubs are coming down and getting cleaned off ASAP. I will also be able to make a slow return to work in the next few months if my appts at Stanford go well in January and February. I feel a little uneasy as things began to turn the corner and realize this is a very common emotion for cancer patients. So much intervention, medication and appointments come into your life that when it begins to recede you feel a little lost. I've had to stop, take deep breaths and pray that this news was cool and it is OK to get better. So, I am trying to embrace this good news and enjoy the blessings of a Christmas with my family at home. Last Christmas was not good as many of you recall so waking up on the 25th with just Laura and my children will be my best present.
I am going to end with a quote from a book I read recently (it's from another dog book so humor me-I have moved on to other genres I promise)...enjoy the holidays everyone!
Well the Nutcracker is over and is was fantastic. I got to see it three times! The first time was on Thursday during the special presentation for Oncology & Hematology patients and their families. Cathie Brown was tireless in her effort to make this show a success and safe for families to "come as they are" and she pulled it off. It was sold out and so amazing (it even made the local news http://www.ksby.com/Global/story.asp?s=9509359). Cathie personally cleaned and prepared the PAC (http://www.pacslo.org/) for the show...I am blessed to call her my friend. The Hearst Cancer Resource Center (see links) was instrumental in getting the tickets to all those who wanted to attend this free performance too. Meghan was beautiful as Clara and Katy was so killer in Snow, Ribbon Dance and Soldier...they continue to inspire me daily. Tommy and I survived as errand boys and Laura was on call to create or deliver all the necessary gifts and accoutrement's needed to pull this off. We love it and the music never gets old so it was labor of love for Laura and I.
On a sad note, my good friend Joel Schnackenberg passed away at the age of 48 after a hunting accident this past week. He was part of our Thursday afternoon men's group & bible study and I will miss him. He was so much fun to be around and his passing reminds me to live life each day with the peace that our Lord has everything in His control...not us. For those who knew Joel, I am sorry and please pray for the entire Schnackenberg family.
Recently, my docs and I have been busy figuring out lab issues and medications and so on. Bottom line, I am improving and have been given the green light to golf and surf. Too much rain lately, so I will wait until the ocean cleans up a little (I am a surfer at heart but not that stupid-ha ha) but the clubs are coming down and getting cleaned off ASAP. I will also be able to make a slow return to work in the next few months if my appts at Stanford go well in January and February. I feel a little uneasy as things began to turn the corner and realize this is a very common emotion for cancer patients. So much intervention, medication and appointments come into your life that when it begins to recede you feel a little lost. I've had to stop, take deep breaths and pray that this news was cool and it is OK to get better. So, I am trying to embrace this good news and enjoy the blessings of a Christmas with my family at home. Last Christmas was not good as many of you recall so waking up on the 25th with just Laura and my children will be my best present.
I am going to end with a quote from a book I read recently (it's from another dog book so humor me-I have moved on to other genres I promise)...enjoy the holidays everyone!
A person can learn a lot from a dog, even a loopy one like ours. Marley taught me about living each day with unbridled exuberance and joy, about seizing the moment and following your heart. He taught me to appreciate the simple things - a walk in the woods, a fresh snowfall, a nap in a shaft of winter sunlight. And as he grew old and achy, he taught me about optimism in the face of adversity. Mostly, he taught me about friendship and selflessness and, above all else, unwavering loyalty.
John Grogan, Marley and Me, 2005
John Grogan, Marley and Me, 2005
4 comments:
WOW! I am so stoked you get to surf! I know surfing gives you so much joy. Getting into the ocean is so healing - I always feel renewed. I feel closest to God at the beach. Jaws, here you come!!!
Katy & Meghan are beautiful! Emily was amamzed at The Nutcracker! I wish I could have been there, too. Thank you for having her and taking her to see the show. She loves you all so much.
Will be praying for your friend's family - so sorry!
You are an amazing brother, Rich. I can't wait to see you again. Will talk to you soon.
Mele Kalikimaka.
What a blessing those performances must have been. I wish we could have seen it. Wishing you, Laura and the kids a Merry Christmas at home this year. Will pray for your friends family, so sorry to hear about the hunting accident. You can surf and golf, but what about Forest Home for Memorial Day? Can you do that? Would love to see you all again. Merry Christmas.
Wow, Rich, really good to hear you are OK'd for surfing and golf! John is coming up on Day 100 and we are curious as to what this next phase will look like for him. So far, he is doing great. We get results from last week's PET scan tomorrow and they will do the first BMB since transplant. Keep a good thought! Best to you and your family for a Happy New Year!
Dana and John
hi rich and family.....thank you so much for the christmas card....we think about you often and glad to hear things are going well....can't wait to see you at work....i'm keeping your locker guarded......shawntel is in ireland with ywam and will be leaving for south africa very soon....we went back to ny to see mom over turkey day for 10 days...less than a week later she had cabg x2 with 85 &90 % rt and lt..marriage life is better than ever....you are in our prayers and you are talked about often in our men's group....miss you and take care ....mike g
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