A trip to rmemember!

Well it sure is good to be back home. And now after a n incredible night of sleep last night, I'm back on schedule. I sure did miss my loving wife and my popsicles in that order. The trip ended with 5 inches of snow and cancelled flight and Laura and I spending an extra night. Since I was out of pills it was a bad night for me until she helped me find them at about 2 hours before we had to get up for a 4:30 shuttle. I took a double dose and was out like a light. So I traveled home a bit under the influence, got picked up at the airport and went right to my chemo treatment. More drugs designed to put me down, so last night i went to bed at 7 and actually slept straight thru for over 12 hours. Something that just doesn't happen to me very often but was amazing. Cindy laughed as she explained drugs and exhaustion to me. Well the exhaustion part was wonderful and well worth it. Five days in a exciting city with Laura was a true blessing and tons of fun. It was a trip full of adventures starting with our walk through the monuments in record-breaking wind gusts of over 50 mph that actually were ripping flags from the Washington monument. It was still the 50's so we plugged on, holding on to each other so that we were sure we would get there together. We then continued our walk all the way to the Kennedy Center to hear some great free Jazz music. Then we decided to go hear some Hawaiian music out in Vienna Va. near where I used to work. The tour book told us where to go but when we got there we found out the book was wrong. It was now after 8 and we hadn't eaten all day and all I could think about was the memory of the greatest Italian food ever somewhere in Vienna. I couldn't remember address or name so I started asking. No luck, so then I convinced a very nice 411 operator on my cell phone to search over 400 listings under Pizza, Italian, or other clues. No luck. Then we ran across a few Vienna policemen and asked, "Italian, family run, fair price, greatest food". She said a few and then on the last one, she gave an address. So I said to Laura, we are gong to Joe's for supper since we least have an address. We checked the bus route and waited in the now 30 degree weather for a while but then finally found a cab. In minutes he drove us right to the address and incredibly enough it was the actual restaurant. I was flabbergasted and could not believe we had stumbled on the very place we wanted. Laura was sure I was lying just to look good but i was able to describe it and then she could tell by the smile on my face that it was the right place. Well the food was no less than fantastic and we stayed quite a while taking pictures and just enjoying the end of a great adventure. After another freezing cab ride and the wonderful DC Metro we finally got back to the hotel after 11. Great first day. The rest of the trip was full of fun at a slightly slower pace and with a bit more planning. It included breakfast meetings at 7, great dinners, a trip to Chinatown, a little shopping, lots of subway miles and some great time with Laura that I will always cherish. I was so proud of her over the weekend. A trip I won't forget for a long time. And now I look forward to my next trip with Carrie and Bill and I hope it is soon. I'm starting to plan some good adventures for them too.

I think the gremlins were stunned during the trip which was good. I came back in time for round 5 of Chemo and it went as usual. I didn't get to see the doctor about the change in my voice but will check it out next time if it is still there. Had my first Wellness Community group meeting last night and it was a very worthwhile group for me. It is a group of other patients of all different types and phases of the process, so very helpful to me with all my early phase questions. I look forward to meeting regularly. My affirmation for being there was meeting Mark and Julia, Tole's friends that we have been praying for in men's group the past months. What a small world.

I also missed writing this crazy blog too. I didn't realize that I would. I missed the connection with many of you and being able to share so much with so many. But now things are back to normal and to convince me of that, Nina showed up tonight with fresh homemade chocolate chip cookies. It doesn't get much better than that to end a day. Thanks Nina for the Bacci candy as well, you're the best! One thing I did hear from my meeting tonight was how powerful a support group can be to a patient. I sat there listening and feeling so incredible proud and blessed when I thought of all of you. You have been missed and you are all loved. God Bless you all.