Family reunion

  We are a small family: just three brothers, two wives and a girlfriend and we've never really been close.  It's been a year since I saw my older brother and two and a half years since I last saw my younger brother But we did get together last week in Blowing Rock, NC for a couple of days.
  I had a great time and I do believe the others enjoyed the time as well.
  My biggest fear was that we would get so involved in activities that we wouldn't have time to really talk with each other.  The first idea was to meet in Tennessee at Dollywood or that other place which is an amusement park.  To many people, to much walking, to many things to distract from the purpose of the visit.  My older brother and I opted for Blowing Rock.  It was a closer drive for the two of us plus my wife and I have health problems so a four hour drive is much to much for us.  My wife wouldn't be up for much walking and I don't think my older brother can venture very far on foot.  Blowing Rock was perfect for us.
  Friday, the only full day we had together was cold and windy and rainy which actually made things better.  We did venture out of the Green Park Inn to shop at one of the road side stands and to find a good restaurant  for lunch.  Even though we stopped in Blowing Rock itself for a little shopping, it was too much for my younger brothers wife as she got cold.  After our brief shopping trip, we rested at the motel for awhile then meet at the piano bar for some good easy music and some fun conversation.  We learned things about each other we didn't know and we left the next morning a closer and much happier group of brothers.

not much for politics

  I don't like to discuss political stuff .  I used to think America was the last sane country of earth but it is now obvious that we are as crazy as the rest of the world.  Mayor's running for president that claim they are both a practicing homosexual and a Christian, abortion of demand, even after birth, illegal immigrants and prisoners receiving more and better help than our fellow soldiers, and all the hate, and race baiting, and name calling, and gun violence, and loose morals, and it is enough to make one cry out to a loving God for an end to the madness.

Getting slack in my old age

  I know I haven't posted much recently but I have been battling health issues.  It started with a routine colonostrophy (sp) That was hardly over when I contracepted a viral infection  which left me with extreme chills, a 104 degree temp and the desire to do nothings.  After several shots and antibiotics I began to feel some better but my stomach has been queasy ever since, somedays to the point of wanting to stay near a toilet but fortunately it hasn't come to that yet.
  The Doctor said I was anemic but my iron levels were fine.  Some days I am fine and some days I just have to stay in bed, rest and try to stay warm.  I was scheduled to see my regular doctor on the 22nd but he is on vacation so my appointment has been put off until the end of May.  Except for type II diabetes which I have under control except for a brief period of time I have been a pretty healthy guy.  But since I had my cancer surgery but body seems to have given up on me.
   I don't know what the immediate or long range future holds but God does so I'll trust Him and leave myself to His care.  What ever happens to me is for God's best interest and mine as well.  Like Paul stated :"To be absent from the body is gain."

The Situation

I'm not complaining but just stating some facts.  I can understand both sides of the issue and I have come to understand that life isn't fair and that what one person considers fair is not always the correct gauge of fairness.
   When I first went to Vietnam in 1970 I met a young man named Dave and we have remained friends all these many years.  As a result of our service in Vietnam we were both exposed to Agent Orange and have developed similar health problems.  Also due to our jobs we both suffer from hearing loses.
   The government furnishes me with hearing aids and supplies at no cost to both of us.  Dave also gets a small compensation check but I don't.
  We both developed similar problems around the same time.  Dave's doctors correctly diagnosed   his problems 4 years ago and together Dave and his doctors made the decision not to treat his condition because he is more likely to die of a heart attack or some other ailment than he is of the cancer they found.  As a result, he receives quarterly monitoring and a large monthly  compensation.
  By the time my cancer was detected  my problems were more severe and the cancer was life threatening.   After weighing all my options it became obvious surgery was my best choice, especially considering my life expectancy was much longer than Dave's due to his heart condition and COPD.  
   To be totally truthful, Dave's problems from his cancer are inconvenient just as mine were for me.  My problems as a result of my surgery are much worse.  Besides the loss of function I have to wear an outside medical devise that is not safe to wear and will be facing the implantation of another device soon.
   Needless to say life was way better before surgery and now I will shortly lose my compensation because I'm considered cancer free even though the surgeon said the cancer could remain in my body for up to 10 years undetected.  To some it doesn't seem fair that Dave should be compensated for a condition that we both have in common just because he elected to live with the condition when he could have a quick one and done treatment that would solve his problem and I'll lose my compensation even though my surgery actually made my daily life much worse.
  On the other hand, some would not consider it fair to continue to compensate me for a problem that I had fixed.
  I don't know if surgery or one of the other forms of treatment will still be an option for Dave down the road.  I hope it will be.
  I'm glad he receives his compensation and it would be nice to continue to receive mine.  It's for sure my cancer would have killed me long before his would have killed him  and if given the choice between surgery and life or the compensation I would choose life.  So I received my benefits for which I am grateful.    

Old friends are the best

  I was young and green  but the man seated next to me on the "Willie" was kind and helpful and guided me through all the procedures and answered all my questions and remained calm for the entire thirteen hour trip.  Since that day, a little over 48 years ago, we have remained friends.  It was great to get to spend some time with him today.
  He retired many years ago and has been traveling about in an RV yet he makes time to stop near me every year, most years, so we can share a day together.    I think this is our first visit together in which we didn't talk about our military service or Vietnam.  It made it more special that more than shared times during a war bonded us together.