We didn't watch this show on our brand new Sylvania with Halo-light purchased around 1956 when I was 8. (TV viewing was a family affair.) It's main character, Paladin, dressed all black and the guns... it was too dark and violent and went against our Mennonite values. Sam Peckinpah directed some of the shows. Gunsmoke was the preferred Western.
I always said we were the last in East Freeman to get a TV, but then everyone else thought they were the last ones to get TV. So who knows? I'll never forget the winter night our whole family piled into the car and drove over to TV dealer/repairman Eddie Schmeichel's house and ordered the set. I think dad plunked down about $300 for the 21" mahogany cabinet tube set — a fair number of bushels of corn back then. What is $300 in today's dollars? It was very exciting. Eddie delivered it to our farm and we set up a roof antenna the next day or so and entered the world of television.
Incidentally, I hadn't seen Stand by Me for 26 years (released 1986) and it was great to see it again. I was very glad I decided to re-visit it. If you haven't seen it, rent it. It's a terribly good movie as my sister-in-law, Sara, would say.
First, a short update. This is all about me after all! How am I feeling? Very well, thank you. I am in the middle of my 9-week oral chemotherapy regimen. Ten pills every day. Five after breakfast and five after supper. Not too many side shows. Much like during my last chemo. Some dizziness. Some diarrhea. Some headache. Some sleeplessness. Some fatigue. No hand-foot syndrome. No hair loss. No nausea. No vomiting. No low white cell counts. No colds. No flu. No diet restrictions. Robust appetite. I've actually gained about six pounds. I keep taking enzymes to help digest food. I also have the fun of giving myself a subcutaneous injection in my "love handles" every evening with heparin to reduce the possibility of a blood clot. Some cancer tumors, such as pancreatic, generate blood clotting proteins, so it looks like the shots are with me for a long time. My brother, Mark, had a stroke during his battle w/pancreatic cancer.
In summary: Physically, I'm doing very damn well. Lucky, I think. Emotionally? Who knows. I suppress, you know. How do I cope? I just keep living. I follow three coping skills offered by Barbara Reed who spoke at our church about living with her husband who has Alzheimers:
- I will not try to cross any bridges until I get there. (This is a natural for the Specks)
- I will not fight what I can not change.
- I will not / do not feel dread. I have joy today.
I still work full time, although I did change one 12-hour work day (Tuesday) I'm supposed to work to an 8-hour day.
I am out of time and I have not gotten to The Tumor's travels out West over the Holidays. Stay tuned. And thanks for all the encouragement and concern.
