So Far, So Good

So, When I came home from my prowlings last night I saw that the house across the street from us had been t.p’d. It is an end of the school year stunt designed to acknowledge  a rising high school student or some other kid  that they are welcomed into the fellowship of bored and stupid kids that think this other kid might be as acceptably boring and stupid as they are. Mike slept through the whole thing, despite some medication (dexamethasone) he got yesterday that the nurse said would keep him up for 2 nights. He got up at 5, thinking it was 6 (Shayna Maidel had advanced the time on his clock again), went downstairs, made his toast and coffee, and then went out to look for the paper. That was when he saw the mess across the street. I enclose graphic evidence of the foolishness above. I must say, I am impressed with the quality of the image taken on his new phone.

So, I suppose you might be interested in how Mike’s chemo went yesterday. He was supposed to have it on Thursday but after meeting with the doctor she said they didn’t have a chair for him at the infusion center. So they came back the following day. Michelle has offered to drive them to chemo all summer long if necessary. Mike and Judy appreciate this immensely. They were gone about nine hours altogether. Michelle said the traffic was as light as she had ever seen both ways, and yesterday was a Friday. Mike had been led to expect that he would have significant symptoms from the first infusion so the protocol called for slow induction. He did have minor symptoms but nothing like what he was expecting. Everybody at the infusion center was very pleasant, professional, and collaborative. Any nurse that was available would take care of something and not make Mike wait until his nurse was available. Mike brought way too much stuff including a change of clothes in case he got sick on himself and a blanket. He used the blanket but they have blankets there so he’ll be leaving these items home next time. And if the medication didn’t make him sick last time it’s not likely to next time. He doesn’t feel sick today either although he’s gone through spells of hiccups. He said he feels better today than he has in quite a few weeks, strangely enough. He and Judy think it’s from the dexamethasone. He slept like a rock last night. He felt well enough to go out in the yard and work for an hour, went to the store, took his shirts to the laundry, checked emails, and now he he’s helping me with this blog. Not that I need that much help but he’s sitting here at the computer with me anyway. Let’s hope that nothing more onerous develops. I’ll keep you posted.

So, Mike is getting excited about the Cubs. They’re in first place in their division. I saw Mike drinking his coffee from his Wrigley field mug today. I’ve heard him talk about the wind at Wrigley Field. When the wind blows in you can’t hit a homerun to save your life, but when it blows out the pitcher better keep the ball down. In the Atlanta paper this morning there was a note that 40 years ago yesterday the Cubs played the Phillies at Wrigley Field. The game went 10 innings in the Phillies won 23 to 22. Needless to say, the wind was blowing out. The game included 11 home runs and 50 hits, Dave Kingman hit three home runs that day. He was a big first baseman for the Cubs and known for his towering home runs. He’s the only player them I can ever remember that hit a towering fly ball to left field that actually went over the wall against a strong wind. Mike thinks they won that game 1-0 but he doesn’t remember for sure. Go Cubbies!

Mike has finally finished reading a book on the history of Jerusalem by Simon Sebag Montefiore. He says that he had never realized how many times the ruling powers of Jerusalem changed hands. He also had no idea of the savagery and bloodshed that Jerusalem has seen. In the prologue to the book the author writes about the destruction of the second Temple by the Roman Empire. Three Jewish groups were fighting with each other as the Romans laid siege to Jerusalem. People were starving. The Roman general was crucifying 50 Jews every day outside of Jerusalem and they just about ran out of trees this went on so long. The psychological warfare was intense. So much gold was looted from the temple that the price on the open market was depressed for months afterwards. Mike wants me to describe some of the characters and tell some of the stories he has read about and so I probably will from time to time. Now that he has started chemo he’s taking some time off from work to see how he feels. He hopes to not be gone too long. For now he will  have more time to read so he’ll keep me busy.

I’ll try to keep these notes coming every week so y’all can keep up with how Mike and Judy are doing; and Michelle too, of course. I will be fine, and the other cats here are clueless. Please keep the prayers and love coming. Mike is certain that it is all your love and prayers that are protecting him and helping him get through this experience. So far he has been true to his goal of embracing the adventure.

Well, not much else to report from Happy Meadows. Have a safe and blessed week, y’all.

Author: Black Magic

Black Magic is a handsome, charming, and self-absorbed cat who lives with Mike and Judy Gordon in Marietta, Georgia. He is about 7 years old, and he will remind you at every opportunity that his grandfather was Black Jack, that famous cat who wrote his own autobiography. Black Magic has a great many opinions, and despite his natural feline arrogance, he seems to be genuinely spiritual. But the reader can decide for him/herself. View all posts by Black Magic