Week 59 – 61

Hey there,

We are back from our adventures in Alaska, which were mostly on the Kenai Peninsula.  The background picture is from Denali National Park, a spectacular place that goes from plush green tundra to forests of white spruce, to rocky mountainsides, and finally to snow-capped peaks, all overseen by the magnificent mountain known as Denali.  The park is home to bear, caribou, moose, mountain goats, golden eagles and many more.

But first, while we were gone we were blessed with the birth of our first grandchild, Elyra, a healthy, happy baby girl.  We are headed up to Grants Pass today to see Elyra in person for the first time.  ‘Face time’ isn’t really the same as ‘real time.’

Now, just a brief overview of our Alaska trip.  The park was our last stop, and from Denali we took the train to Anchorage for our return flight.  While in Denali we went in a small plane for a fly-around Mount Denali…the peak was clear and majestic above the clouds.  After the plane ride we took the bus (only buses are allowed to drive around in the park) for a six hour ride. We saw lots of bear, caribou, and a moose or two, and beautiful scenery.

Other adventures in Alaska included a small boat trip to a glacier, a float down the Kenai River, a hike to see salmon jumping up the rapids, an overnight stay in a ‘bear camp’ (an isolated spot that we got to by bush plane where we watched bears catch salmon and interact with each other)…fascinating.  We also took a trip to the old town of Homer and the Salty Dawg Saloon, and went halibut fishing in the gulf of Alaska (Carol and I both caught a halibut!!).  It was all great, and everything is huge in Alaska (except the Caesar salads at the Crow’s Nest in Anchorage)!

On the health side of things, I finally broke through the 135 lbs level, weighing in this morning at 135.2.  Maybe I don’t have to stress out about food so much any more….we’ll see.  Maybe I can concentrate on eating healthy instead of just eating, eating.

I’m feeling good, but still get winded easily, especially if I’m walking uphill.  I have a lot of work ahead of me to get my endurance back.  I saw a physical therapist yesterday to find out what the story is with my shoulders…they have been weak and sore, and I may have been exacerbating the problem with my workout regiment at the gym.  Anyway, after an introductory discussion with the head therapist, a giant fellow worked on my shoulders and arms, got everything loosened up, put me through a lot of pain, and now the shoulders feel better.  I’ll be going there twice a week for a bit and we’ll see how that goes.

I had my first session of radiation on the prostate yesterday.  There will be eight weeks of treatment, five days a week.  We’ll see how this affects my innards as time goes on.  The oncologist started me on hormone pills a couple weeks ago, and yesterday she recommended that I get a hormone shot and discontinue the pills.  She said the shot lasts six months.  After some mulling I said okay.  Then when the nurse gave me the shot she acted like this was something I would get every six months basically forever.  I need to talk to the oncologist again.  I don’t think I want to stay on this hormone routine over the long term.

Next month will be a year since my surgery, and I will have another PET scan then to see if everything on the esophageal side of things is still clear.

So, I’ve been thinking…this weekly blog may be running out of steam.  I don’t know that I can keep this up every week.  We’ll see how it goes.  Maybe every few weeks, or whenever something significant happens.  Or maybe just when I’m feeling lonely and want to say hello to who’s ever out there.  We’ll see.

In the meantime, here’s part two of

Trees I Have Known

The thin-skinned madrone

Spread its burly branches in all directions

From a four-pronged trunk.

 

The madrone, an interloper,

Was not bowed in the company of Douglas firs

And sugar pines.

 

It lived in the low mountains near Challenge

Where we had a cabin and fifty acres

When I was a little boy.

 

The madrone thrived in a bed of mulch, a lawn of ferns,

And I went there to climb

And cling to it.