“All the soarings of my mind begin in my blood.” Rainier Maria Rilke The seasons fold into one another like origami. Several days of hard frost caused my tomatoes to droop with dismay. As if on cue, east winds set the maples ablaze with fall color. Then a front of marine air, spring-like, collided with the … More Where The Wild Things Are
During the interval between this post and the last, my garden unleashed a bounty of colorful blooms. Iris and rhododendron, in particular, show off extravagant blossoms in lavender, pink, and white. Beneath these preening plants, more humble flowers open their smiling faces to the sun and spring rains. Nasturtium, cosmos, petunia, dianthus, marigold, geums, and … More Riding the Melphalan Wave
My family is safe and sound following several harrowing trips through the Columbia River Gorge. We’ve lived in the Hood River Valley for 30 years. Nothing confers “sourdough” status upon visitors more quickly than driving The Gorge in a winter storm. It doesn’t matter whether you are a passenger or behind the wheel. If you’ve … More Remission, Relapse, Rejoice
Recently, a friend asked me what I do with my time. When I tried to describe a typical day, I laughed. The reason is because I do a whole lot of nothing. This reminds me of a Buddhist joke. A disciple of the Dalai Lama gave him a present for his birthday. Upon unwrapping the … More Much Ado About Nothing
Sunday, I went to the clinic’s pharmacy. I received yet another prescription. I now have drugs to protect me against the chemo and drugs to protect me against the drugs protecting me against the chemo. Currently, my multi-colored pillbox houses seven varieties. Some are twice a day, one is four times a day. I also … More The Little Things
Today, at 11 am, under an overcast sky, I left our residence for the clinic. There I met with a doctor and a physician’s assistant from the Infectious Diseases department. The SCCA’s impressive attention to detail reassures my participation in their transplant program. Monday, a second CT Scan should provide them with the information about … More What Are You Going To Do?
Good Blood, Bad Blood 