What Do We Write On Wednesday?

I spent some time yesterday reading through old blog posts, specifically the Old Man Bucket List Road Trip posts. Good times. Good memories.

But that didn’t give me a topic for today.

Night before last I spent some time in the middle of the night considering whether I should write my memoirs. I dismissed the idea because I don’t really think I’ve led that interesting a life. Sure, I’ve done some cool things and had some great experiences.

I just don’t think that, as a whole, they’re novel worthy.

I’m not fishing for compliments. I don’t fish.

I do, however, have lots of individual stories I can tell.

I need to be better about doing that.

It makes me wish I’d done a better job of journaling over the years. That would help, perhaps, my faulty memory.

All that being said, my current novel is a memoir of sorts, just not my memoir.

I’m trying to use the time here in rehab to finish the first full draft.

The race then, if we want to call it that, is to see if I walk first or finish the draft first.

I know what I’m rooting for.

Thorny Days

I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.

John 16:33

In case you’re counting, as I am, today marks six weeks that I’ve been in rehab following my surgery. We’re also in the sixth month since this ordeal began.

What you may not know is that last year, as a present for my 66th birthday, and a pre-retirement gift to myself, I got a tattoo. After all, I was rather proud of the fact that I’m a two-time cancer survivor.

The tattoo, on the inside of my left arm reads:

I am the LORD that healeth thee. Exodus 15:26.

A little ironic maybe?

It’s as if the Lord put on his best Clint Eastwood voice and said “Do you really mean that, Punk?”

Not really. I’ve already written that I believe I’m being healed, just not on my timeframe.

I’ve been through trying times before. As I mentioned, I’m a two-time survivor of cancer.

In late 2020 I was diagnosed with prostate cancer. That’s after having testicular cancer in my early 30s.

Let’s stop for a public service announcement: Gentlemen, if you even think anything is wrong “down there” run, do not walk, to your doctor’s office. It’s better to find out all is well than to put it off.

My treatment for the prostate cancer consumed much of 2021. I had radiation seeds implanted which were followed by a series of radiation treatments. I had 25 treatments scheduled. I tracked them on Facebook with my Playlist Countdown. You can view the Playlist here.

I also did an art project at the conclusion. A dear friend from college sent me the text of a poem by Martha Snell Nicolson.

Every day for the first two and a half weeks of radiation, I would check in at the front desk and be given a temporary bracelet. This stopped as COVID restrictions started to lift, but I kept the first 17 as a reminder. The text on the artwork is from the poem and says “I learned He never gives a thorn without this added grace, He takes the thorn to pin aside the veil which hides his face.”

I need that reminder these days. Maybe it will help you as well.

The Thorn

I stood a mendicant of God before His royal throne
and begged Him for one priceless gift, which I could call my own.
I took the gift from out His hand, but as I would depart I cried,
“But Lord this is a thorn and it has pierced my heart.
This is a strange, a hurtful gift, which Thou has given me.”
He said, “My child, I give good gifts and gave My best to thee.”
I took it home and though at first the cruel thorn hurt sore,
as long years passed I learned at last to love it more and more.
I learned He never gives a thorn without this added grace,
He takes the thorn to pin aside the veil which hides His face.

Martha Snell Nicolson

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