Back to Florida

The car is semi packed…The Dublin “Chalet” is looking kind of empty. I will go to the St James tomorrow for a clinic check up- get some new pills and point the Cadillac south. BTW, I am extremely happy with 27 miles per gallon…as the North Star eight cylinder glides down the road… Yes I could get better mileage, but I am still resistant to driving a cracker box. I enjoy the ride.

I fly back December 7th, and then monthly after that.

The Cal 101 treatment has been successful so far…lymph nodes have decreased, my energy has increased, and my skin issues- itchy, break outs, eruptions- have disappeared. This is a phase one trial- so there may be other issues not yet discovered… but anything that will give me a better “quality of life” enhancement is ok with me. Phase one trial usually has only one goal… see what dosage is tolerated, participants have very few options.

I received some bad news last night- a fellow CLL’er passed away. I had met him several years ago here in Columbus- when I was on my Bone Marrow Transplant attempt. I had wanted to meet someone who had had a transplant. Danny was from the Cleveland area, had had a bone marrow transplant two years prior, and was having a terrible time of Graft versus Host disease. He passed away after a battle with pneumonia and H1N1 last Thursday, leaving behind a wife, Dawn, and son Donovan (who I believe is ten). Please remember them in your prayers as they struggle through this difficult period.

I was kicked off the transplant train due to a bad kidney that had to be removed. I have often thought that that had been a good thing- not going to transplant. Had the kidney thing not been discovered- it surely would have caused havoc after the transplant.

I am ready to go home.

God Bless,

Being Selfish

Do we actually tell someone when we forgive them? Is it for the forgivers benefit more so than the receiving person of the forgiveness?

Another blogger mentioned a rapists being forgiven and that it may not have any impact on him. He displayed no repentance. It reminded me of a news story I saw on Pittsburgh television a few days ago. The gangster who killed the former witness was acting up for the camera as he was being lead away. Tough guy. A new witness was stepping forward, and if justice is served- the young man will not see the outside of a prison again…But if he were forgiven by the victim family, can the fact he is forgiven make a difference?

Maybe not in my time frame, maybe not at all…Fortunately for the young rapist, the gangster, and others I am not the almighty making the decisions or judgments… They more than likely would be obliterated. Who’s next?

But maybe, just maybe, after a decade or two in jail--- if they survive, they might make a life changing decision…they might reflect upon the absurd notion that a victim’s family forgave them. They might repent.

As a Christian…their admission of sin and acceptance of Christ is sufficient…as long as it is sincere…no matter when it occurs. It doen’t seem fair- but maybe, just maybe- forgiving someone and letting them know they are forgiven might make an everlasting change of salvation for that person down the road. Eventually.

Please do not get me wrong. They must pay for what they did in accordance with our laws. I am not thinking we need to open the gates… but not forgiving someone may be more harmful to the victim… Some psychiatrists are suggesting bitterness might be labeled as a mental disorder… I think we all can think of someone who had something happen in their life- and never got over it… Maybe we can see a bit of that in ourselves...

I don’t think I could ask the victim’s family to spend time with an unrepentant aggressor- or think fondly of them- but forgiving them and moving on with their lives might be the best for all concerned.

Having a son sitting in prison, who walked away from his family- his children- my grandchildren, I can only hope that one day he sees the errors of his ways.

If he does that at age 80, long after I am gone, in some cell somewhere… that would be great. Sooner of course would be better...but again it is not my time table.

God Bless,

Forgiveness

This is probably one of my biggest challenges. One that I am working on… I got a little vindictive earlier in the week. My situation, my challenges… Nothing to lose- I started looking at some old fashioned pay back… for a long long time ago.

I have relented.

Forgiveness is something that is given us from Christ… Something I need to emulate.

I am working on it...

God Bless,

Winning off the strip

The surgery was successful in removing most of the tumors in my bladder…I am rescheduled for a repeat performance on November 18th. All are superficial, no worries.

The Cal 101 leukemia trial seems to be reducing the Lymph nodes, and my energy seems to be increasing. I have clinic Tuesday, and go for CT Scans on Wednesday,

It is 59 degrees here at the Dublin Chalet. Sun is shining, and I will cruise about twenty minute or so to visit a car show hosted by an old friend and client.

This last week was the first time I have missed the Las Vegas SEMA trade show in over 15 years. Strangely enough, missing my friends aside, I did not miss the week long trek from aisle to aisle. I am not a gambler... I did miss the Calamari steaks at the Hilton Steak House, and great Italian fare off the strip at Ferro’s, the wine at Mix’s at the Mandalay Bay -with the best view in town, and of course my ARMO and SEMA friends who surprised me last year with an induction into the Automotive Restoration Market Organization's Person of the year...

It totally blew me away.

But things change…new chapters begin…

Gotta go check out the car show…

God Bless