No Turning Back Now

So, greetings from Happy Meadows, or rather, greetings from Emory University Hospital where Mike and I checked in this afternoon. Mike’s room is really nice, and he has a great view of the parking deck. You can also see downtown Decatur from here, and Stone Mountain is barely poking up at the horizon. (By the way, Mike says horizon is one of those words that he read as a youngster and got the pronunciation wrong. Other examples are stomach, coyote, Penelope, and walrus.) Walrus, you say? What is so difficult about walrus? Somehow, although Mike is not dyslexic, it came out warlus in his mind.

The staff here is great. The room is quite large, brightly lit, and it is quiet up here. They are not running full, I suppose, because many people did not want to be in the hospital for Christmas. Judy and Michelle have gone home for the night. Mike just got an antibacterial wash from the nursing staff, and they painted his nose with iodine, it looks like. They are trying to unclog his port. I suggested dynamite. He has this device that is not clogged up that has 3 catheters hanging from his chest, so they don’t really need the port now. Mike is going to get some magnesium IV, and his chemo will start round 9PM. He is supposed to ice his mouth for the 2 hours of the infusion, which might get annoying, but it will be worth it if it cuts down on the mouth sores that people get from the chemo.

Mike is wondering about his hair. It probably will fall out in a couple of weeks or so. He says it is going to grow back curly and red. I doubt it. (He says his great-grandmother Ethel Cowl had red hair, as did at least two of her daughters and 3 of her grandchildren.) But him saying this reminds me of Mike’s story about his freshman high school teacher, Mrs. B. She had curly red hair to go along with a generous nose. Mike says she was very nice. She was explaining that in Latin there are 2 words for “man.” One word is vir and the other word is homo. Vir is used to refer to a man of considerable importance, and homo is used in reference to an ordinary Joe. She gave an example: “President Eisenhower is a vir, and my husband is a homo.” Mike says that just then the bell rang, and the class poured out into the hallway laughing hysterically.

If you want to visit Mike he is in room T921. It is located in the Hospital Tower, 1365 Clifton Ave, on the Emory campus. If you have a cold or think you may have been exposed to something please don’t come. All visitors are asked to check in at the nursing station to be given the 3rd degree about their health. If you want to come please text or call Mike first to see if he is up to having company. His number is 770-597-4599. Look for frequent updates. We are grateful for all the prayers and good wishes we are receiving continuously. Thanks for praying for Mike’s friend, Ellis. He is doing well. Please pray for Mike’s friend, Brenda. Her health is challenged, and she is in need of prayer.

And one more thing. I told you Mike was reading “The Power of Now” by Eckhard Tolle. It was a good read, and Mike found encouragement and drew strength from it. The author said something profound that I would like to share with you. He said that he has lived with several Zen masters, all of them cats. So that’s all for now. Be well, be safe, and have a wonderful holiday. 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.

3 thoughts on “No Turning Back Now”

  1. Dear Kitty,
    What a fine 1st report from you about your dear master. Encouraging to read and heart rendering at the same time. This is truly a Special Day and our heartwarm wishes are coming your way! C

  2. I’m praying for you Dr. Gordon. Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah. I pray for your peace and strength and comfort with the least side effects possible. You will always be a big part of my heart.

  3. Praying, Mike, for success with the process you are enduring now and wishing all good things for you and yours!
    Powell

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