Rochester Mayo

Dear Friends and Family,

I wanted to write a quick post to send an update on my Dad. He is almost done with his first week of treatment at Methodist Hospital at Mayo. He has had very little side affects if any, although they say that may come in week two. His chemo stops tomorrow and then he will remain in the hospital for another week while his body recovers and blood counts are healthy enough to leave the hospital. Things tend to change so we will see what the next few weeks bring. My mom has a nice extended stay hotel to stay in which is just a block away. She has been giving our guests a tour of her favorite restaurants and her favorite hotels in Rochester. Everything is within about 6 blocks so it's a quick tour (although I have been on it about 3 times so I sometimes feel like it is groundshog day :)). My dad has been in pretty good spirits and chatting it up with the nurses, doctors, and patients. He just hangs out in the community room hoping for someone to join him in conversation or suggest some good book authors as they are about to read their own book. We go for walks each day and his only rule is that he can't leave the 7th floor. Fortunately for him the 7th floor stretches through all the Mayo Buildings so we can get pretty far on the 7th floor. We have had quite a few visitors already which has been so nice for all of us. Micki Bell spent a few days here before I came which was wonderful for my mom as she got settled here. Saturday my 3 friends from college Patty, Erin, and Sarah came to visit with my cousin Janel. Bob and Maureen Ryan were here as well to have lunch with my mom and dad. Allison got here on Sunday and stayed until today which was great and we were able to go to my mom's favorite restaurant with her. It was a special dinner. Then today my aunt Betsy and Steve and Nancy and Joe came for lunch. We are hoping they don't kick my dad out for his excessive partying and guests.
All and all things are going pretty well considering his situation. We all hope and pray his treatment gets him healthy so we can continue this party at home in Duluth.
His address at the hospital is: Rochester Methodist Hospital, 201 West Center Street, Room #7-421, Rochester, MN 55905 

Love, Kimber

io non c'e`male

At least I don't feel sick lately. When someone asks you how are you today, most people say fine, great, not bad or some other comment that no one really is listening to anyway. Lately when people ask me they actually want to know, so I tell the truth; "I'm really feeling pretty good." This in spite of the medicine and the side effects are not that profound as yet.
Sammy has been a lot of fun to train as we are making progress every day. She now loves the water and will take a retrieve as far as I can throw. My dad would say that these animals are gifts from God and we should be careful not to ruin the instincts they came with. Working with dogs and nature is such a pleasure for me, so we will just have to put it on hold for a while.
Tomorrow, Linda and I are going to Mayo again with the expectation that they will hospitalize me for a course of chemo therapy and a hopeful remission. Linda will stay in a room in Rochester close to the hospital and when I get a little better we can share the place for a while until the Doctors are agreeing to let us go back to Duluth.
My friend, Father Lepak sent me a note saying that he would pray for us and we hope you will too.
Gary

How do you know when you love someone?

One of the obvious ways is that you like to be close to that person. You like to do things together and gradually your hobbies and interests commingle For Linda and me it has been easy because we like to do a lot of the same things. Just yesterday we spent time in our yard getting ready for spring and trying to make things nicer around the house. For me it is necessary to call over Linda to inspect and give  her approval for what has just been done or to discuss my next idea which might not be good. This gives us a sense of accomplishment, pleasure and closeness.
We have had some times of separation that certainly did not diminish our love, but it was always apparent that something was missing. The first of these was when my country asked me to go to Vietnam. These deployments were almost always for 12 months or more. This is hard to envision for a young newly married couple. We didn't ask to do this, but it was our duty to comply with the requested assignment.
Well I can tell you that we both felt our bouts of loneliness and there is always present a kind of melancholy. You do your work and live your life with just a little less of something. These pictures show a young man and woman who have not been with their loved one for 10 months or so. One is in Southeast Asia and one is in Minnesota. They love each other. They miss each other. They want to be together.

 How could we expect anything but subdued smiles that demonstrate this couples longing

Mai piu cosi lontano 

Now we face a separation of sorts that we certainly did not ask for. This challenge is far more difficult and unpredictable but our love for one another is strong. Linda will help me through it with the gentle hand of God. We have many friends and family to help us too. My Mother is certain that I'll be OK and she knows because she prays to God every day for sure. She also loves Linda like a daughter and is praying for her welfare too.

Tomorrow or Tuesday I'll be in St. Mary's hospital in Rochester for a while to get more aggressive with the disease. I have every confidence that we are doing the right thing and I too pray for my return to health.

The love of my life is close to me now and gives me encouragement every day. 

At least this time our separation will be only a few blocks or a few miles. But again it is too far.

GARY

St. Simons Island, Georgia

Our gang of travelers just finished a week in a very special house in St. Simons Island. As mentioned in a previous blog we have been doing something together every year for over forty years. This time we took up in a historic home that once was a "carriage house" connected to a larger mansion that has been since moved to Daufuskie Island in South Carolina. This turned out to be perfect as it was a short walk to the beach and a short walk to the village. Most of us were content to do very little, so other than some sightseeing and golf for a few we mostly read, played dominoes and had fabulous meals that we (in my case "they") prepared every day except one where we walked to town for dinner.
Not many midwestern people talk about Georgia as a vacation area, but I can say that these barrier islands are very beautiful and comfortable with nice weather and friendly people. St. Simons is just a seventy mile drive from Jacksonville airport or smaller airports even closer. Anyway, Linda and I are very happy to have gotten away for the week and we enjoyed every minute with our friends and each other.
Happy Birthday to my Aunt Betty who just turned 90.

My Doctor said "eat"

Standing in the Live Oak Trees

Barrier Islands Have Nice Bridges

Sammy

People have been asking about Sammy; how is she doing, is she getting big, etc. Well, she is growing and starting to demonstrate a personality that I think I can count on not to change too much now. Her behavior in the house is excellent, outside might be another story. I use a long lead to keep her in check or she might visit the next County. Actually she is quite well disciplined at almost all times, with the emphasis on "almost". We are both very happy to have this dog as she has been a nice diversion, and even Linda likes being around her a lot. By the way she does retrieve so I'm having that kind of fun too, but behavior is the most important thing at this age. The word is that teaching a Black Lab to retrieve is like teaching a kid to eat ice cream.
Linda and I are heading to St. Simons Island this Saturday to spend the week with some friends that we have been tolerating for about 40 years or longer. We have rented a large house near the beach and we always have a good time. My Dr. gave me the go ahead and so we are taking advantage of a lull in my treatment regimen. Anyway, Tom Dougherty brings enough wine as to be considered a form of treatment in itself. Really, we are quite prudent in our grown up years. Maybe we will overdose on books, dominoes and excellent home cooking.

Sammy at Attention

Gary and Linda

Anniversary Number 70

Linda's parents celebrated today their 70th wedding anniversary in Cambridge, Minnesota. Now that is quite a feat these days. First you have to get married with a promise to be faithful and to stick together through thick and thin, sometimes more thin than thick. I've never known a couple that has done so many things together through out their lives. First there was the few years in California when Huns was in the Navy and Myrt was close by. After the war they moved to Cambridge where they bought the farm and there was now a need to work together to make it all successful. This they did from the farming, gardening, cleaning chickens and other animals for food, the constant cleaning and cooking for a farm family that needed a lot of food for all the expended energy. Believe me, I've seen this family at work and they know to get a lot done in a day. I guess it was necessary in the early days, but they cannot change. First you work and then you play, that is if the time ever allows it.
Now of course Huns and Myrt are retired, yet they stay very active. They take care of themselves for the most part and find time for card playing and even dancing. It's a good thing Great Grandma Thorn didn't find out about this decadence. Huns isn't supposed to drive (Dr's orders) and for the most part he doesn't except when there is some difficult terrain to negotiate, then Myrt will relinquish the wheel to her husband.
I didn't go to the party as crowds can carry an increased risk of catching a cold or something else I don't now need.

 

I did have a long conversation with Myrt the other day, (long by my standards). Her memory is perfect, in fact Myrt can remember things as if they happened yesterday. And she can also get the most subtle humor that older persons often miss. Huns doesn't like to talk on the phone because his hearing isn't too good and so we just talk to Myrt and she relays the thought. I made a point of thanking them for having a daughter that is now my wife of 43 years. They know of course how much I love her and how lately we have to rely on and support one another even more than ever. To deal with a serious illness with out the loving care of someone close must be very difficult. I am thankful for the gift of this terrific person, born in Princeton, MN, the beautiful daughter of Myrtle and John Laase.

Jerry, David, Dale, Linda, Myrt, Huns, Brenda

IN THE MOOD FOR AN UPDATE

Obviously, I have been behind in my posts to this blog and some have been gently nudging me to give at least an update of my medical condition. Some people have to get in the proper mood to do certain things and I am definitely one of these people. This is a nice communication tool, this thing we call a BLOG. Where did that word come from?


A blog (a portmanteau of the term web log)^[1] is a personaljournal published on the World Wide Web consisting of discrete entries ("posts") typically displayed in reverse chronological order so the most recent post appears first. Blogs are usually the work of a single individual, occasionally of a small group, and often are themed on a single subject.


Today I'm feeling good, just working on a tax problem related to my HSA account. I also did some work with Sammy attempting to teach her a few things. My Dad said all dogs are different and this one has a personality that we are still trying to figure out. Tommy and Erik have spent the last two nights with us as we brought them back on our return from Rochester. We will go to Allison's tomorrow and celebrate Easter with her family just for the day. 
As to my condition, my Doctors think we should take a break from the chemotherapy in order for my bone marrow to recover a little. When your marrow is so depressed the risk of infection becomes paramount. This shows that although the therapy is working, there is definitely a need for more treatment when the time is right. For now we are just staying close to home trying to stay healthy. 
We have had so many wonderful gestures of support from both family and friends. These are very meaningful and appreciated by Linda and me immensely . Just by reading this blog you are showing your concern for our family.
Soon another more interesting blog will be posted if the mood comes my way again. It will. Actually I know of at least three English teachers that read this thing and it leaves me a little intimidated.