Freedom for all

So, Mike is finally feeling much better, although he did cough frequently last night and disturbed everyone’s sleep, especially his own. No fever for 5 days. He saw the dermatologist Tuesday who grimaced when he saw Mike’s legs, and said Mike has been on way too many medications. No argument, but what is he supposed to do? Anyway, he did prescribe a tapering dose of prednisone, and Mike is much better. The rash is not so angry looking, and stopped itching, so Mike can sleep again (unless he coughs all night.) Today will be he second Thursday in a row with no chemo, so his body gets a break. He sees his myeloma doctor next Thursday, and may resume chemo. He was back at work part time this week.  He finally felt uncontagious enough yesterday to get a haircut. He was dreading this because he knew Noemi, his hairdresser, would cry when he told her he has cancer. She is a very sweet lady from Columbia. She offered to come to the house to give him a haircut if he needs one while he is in isolation after his bone marrow transplant (if he has one.) She will also pray for him. Mike also continues to get cards from his patients that are very loving and supportive. Most people are wonderful, not the same picture you get if you watch the news, or read history.

So, today is Independence Day here in the USA. We also call it the 4th of July, but it is the 4th of July everywhere on earth today. On this date in 1776 the leading American colonists gathered in Philadelphia, having had enough of the King of England extracting taxes and giving nothing much in return, including the right to vote. “No taxation without representation” was the operative slogan. Thomas Jefferson wrote a document called the “Declaration of Independence” in which he said something like “all men are created equal” and were endowed by their Creator with certain “Unalienable rights”, namely, “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” I think that, great as these words sound, he was literally not talking about all people, but rather, about white, male landowners. If you were a woman, stay home, sew, and make babies. Jefferson was a slaveowner, and saw no contradiction between his ideals of freedom for himself, and the lack of same for slaves. Times have changed, but I guarantee you, the haves will always try to keep the have-nots poor and without power to take their rightful share of the wealth of this country. So, please go ahead and have your parades, make your speeches, and eat your hot dogs, but lets try to make this a more equitable country where freedom is a reality for everyone.

Mike saw a not entirely unrelated article in the sports page yesterday, noting that on July 3, 1947 the Cleveland Indians purchased Larry Doby from the Newark Eagles of the Negro National League, making him the second black player in the major leagues, and the first in the American League. I should clarify by saying that it wasn’t Doby that was purchased, but rather, the right to sign him to a contract. By 1947 slavery was illegal in the USA, and had been for over 80 years. Also worth noting is that the owner of the Cleveland Indians at that time was Bill Veeck, of whom I wrote in my blogpost “You can’t be too careful” on January 1, 2018. Doby had to put up with the same kind of discrimination and abuse that Jackie Robinson did, but he excelled on and off the field. He had a fine career and is in the Baseball Hall of Fame.

I was going to talk about Schroedinger’s Cat, but I want to get this out today, so look for it next, along with, of course, a Mike update. Michelle has come over today to be with us. I always enjoy her visits. And Mike’s good friend Powell is here from North Carolina. He came over for a visit with Mike this morning. They were so glad to be with each other and get caught up on each other’s lives. Friendship is a wonderful thing. So, enjoy the rest of your holiday, be safe, and you will hear from me again soon. So long from Happy Meadows.

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