The last time I prepared to update this blog seems as remote to me now as watching Beanie and Cecil cartoons while slurping a bowl of Quisp cereal.
But it was only Saturday morning. I was sitting on my sofa, staring at my computer three feet away, feeling drained of all energy, and absolutely inert, unable to move from one position to the other.
Two friends were visiting Los Angeles for the holiday weekend, and we had plans to meet at my apartment. Instead, I tossed a monkey wrench into the plans for the day by calling on two other friends to rush me to Kaiser’s emergency room.
Late Saturday, X-rays revealed that I had substantial fluid in my lungs, and sometime after midnight, a laborious procedure to remove some of the fluids began. At this point, it’s not clear whether the fluids signal an aggressive advance of my cancer, or if this episode is just another annoying bump in the road of life.
I’m writing this on a laptop loaned by a pair of Positive Pedalers who drove from the Bay Area. They graciously have suppressed their snickers as they watch me struggle with a laptop keyboard and a cursor that spontaneously slips into hiding. They know it’s not nice to needle an old geezer with a misshapen skull and 27 tubes in his body.
I’ll write more as I can.
Meantime, a homework assignment for you: Find out why manufacturers of urinal receptacles can’t invest some serious R&D into development of a product that would satisfy more consumers. The current standard is challenge for the lesser endowed to use, especially in the dark of night wile contending with all of the other wires, cords and tubing that make it nearly impossible move while in bed. My soiled linen bin overfloweth.
Go to www.pospeds.org for some spiffy news about yours truly
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Paul, hang in there. Ed, Dean, and I are harassing the nurses for information and if that is not enough ... Lisa is coming this weekend. She cannot wait to see you.In the meantime, get some rest and strength back!
ReplyDeleteLove ya
Mike (the brother)
My thoughts are with you, Paul. you seem to have your sense of humor intact and that's a good thing.
ReplyDeleteLorri
Emeritus only begins to describe the person you are, the work you've done and what you are to the fortunate people who know you. P.S. I hate laptops, too. -- Marvin
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely tribute to your spirit, hard work and dedication, Paul. You have a lot of people pulling for you. Hang in there. Kim (Scott) Krask
ReplyDeleteWere your ears burning tonight? Jim Vellequette and I were talking about you. I shared a story with him about my last day at APLA and how you were the kindest person in that whole building. You even put me on the cover of APLASauce (and didn't that cause a stir?!?!). Your blog is such an inspiration - as are you!! Big hugs buddy!
ReplyDeletePamela Brannon
Congratulations on your well-deserved position as the newest Emeritus Board Member of Pos Peds. You make us all so very proud. Hang in there, Paul. Try to imagine if you were a girl trying to use one of those urinal receptical thingies. ;-)
ReplyDeleteLois
Great to see you again today... I promise to stop by again on my next trip to LA. Hayden was full of questions on the ride home and is very concerned about you. You are so cool now because I told him you were the person that introduced me to Ameobia's. It's a must visit when we have auditions in that area.
ReplyDeleteLove you Buddy!
Nathan
Hey Paul! You have to get well. I live for the next installment!! When I first learned about the internet and all that it offered--way back when, standing next to Al Gore as he invented it--you were the first person I looked for from my Landisaster days. Now I found you I refuse to lose you. Please feel better and I don't care if it's a laptop (I hate them), keep writing. Don't make me come over there (she says in her best teacher voice)! Sue Thompson
ReplyDelete