Good Medicine

It has only been a couple of days since I was diagnosed with lung cancer… Non-small cell lung cancer… adenocarcinoma. New words and phrases that will become all too familiar to me. As well the treatments: lobectomy, chemotherapy, radiation. But reading “For most patients with non-small cell lung cancer, current treatments do not cure the cancer,” on the National Cancer Institute website, I am only too aware that more will be required than can be delivered by the medical community. I have never been a quitter and I intend to give this cancer a good fight. The extra “Good Medicine” ingredient comes first of all from my partner Bob, then from family, friends, and perfect strangers who have showered me with good thoughts and prayers. I spent this past weekend with long time friends Lee and Melanie (pictured above) on Whidbey Island. My son Jeff joined us. We sat around the dinner table enjoying good food, laughter, and conversation. On Monday afternoon I left Whidbey Island, filled with warmth and peacefulness, allowing me to later hear the doctor’s cancer diagnosis with some degree of calmness. It is at times like this that I am reminded about how important it is to have others in my life. I will need this kind of good medicine in the weeks and months ahead. And I must not forget to mention the newest team member… a one and a half year old cat named Sir. Lancelot. He is a BIG long-haired, silver and white “rescue cat” that we have just adopted. Lance likes to roll over and have his tummy rubbed, to have his plumed tail pulled (gently please), and he is a four-legged bundle of quiet affection… Good Medicine.

Son Jeff, Bob, Melanie, and Lee

...PLM