Tuesday December 24th^th, 2013

 

Man, I’d be in trouble if I had a daily deadline, I’m totally slipping….and detaching….part of not writing in here so much is that I am now, quite often, engaged in updates over the phone, face-to-face, wherever, as to how I’m doing…..feels like addressing it yet again in the blog makes it more ever-present.

Fact is, end of this month is 17 months post treatment, and I’m doing great.  I’ve had 3 PET or CT scans, and 3 ENT nose/throat probes with a little camera and I’m coming out with flying colors every time….and I’m continuously humbled.

My radiologist told me to my face that I am in the top ONE PERCENT (1%) of the 500 cancer patients he has treated in his career. He says my recovery is so much swifter than anyone he can even recall right now. That’s me and 4 other people……out of 500. I still live and will most likely live with some built-in issues now, but they are certainly and most definitely manageable, and an easy trade-off. Can you believe that? It is in large part because of the energy of this communication transmission, and the support I received from all of you….along with a fair amount of work from me and my family, of course. I never thought I’d hear myself say “I am the 1%”

We’ve done a lot since last I wrote, a wild Halloween here with 1,000 pieces of candy given away, a sold out Town Hall show with Fleetwood Mask tearing it up. So much fun…..we have Petty Theft coming in for 2 nights January 31/February 1---Super Bowl Weekend…..saw a Niner game, fall colors, a fun family Thanksgiving, and the ensuing Christmas season.

Sam made the freshman basketball team and is rolling through his pre season schedule, with local tournaments and across a bridge travel games.  So, I’ve been diverted.

This holiday season (and I’m still holding my breath) ideally won’t have the same issues as last, my back totally tanking one year ago tonight. The worst back pain I’ve ever had. This past year, with the help of my healing acupuncturist, I am back and in action…..just so happy to be here now, enjoying life and the lives of those around me….

The main problem with creating gaps in between posts is that so much goes by….I want these first two years to go by quickly, because this cancer usually re-appears in the first 24 months, so this is a key period….but way down inside, I just know we kicked its ass,  and that it is all behind me now.

So, to that, I wish you all a very Merry Christmas (Happy Holiday Season) and a Happy New Year. I wish you all peace and joy, AND good health. Check back in “next year” and we’ll see what’s going on then.

 

Go Niners!

TS

October 12^th, 2013

 

Time keeps on slippin’ slippin’ slippin’ into the future….we are now at 14 ½ mos post treatment, and it seems I’ve got a few things I’ll need to live with, a new reality so to speak….NONE of which are anything close to major game-changers, if viewed with perspective.  There is light swelling in the neck upon awakening, parched morning dry mouth, an inability to savor ice cream or chocolate, not enough saliva to work a good salad and an extensive long-term burn on the neck keeping me from sporting my moustache goatee deal, thus the current soul patch. That can all go in the interest of the greater good.

I am a very lucky man. I am blessed, supported, cherished, inspired, and as we move forward actually more adept at smelling the roses that I was before all of this began. On our descent from Lake Aloha and it’s 9,500 or so foot elevation in the desolation wilderness back in early August, I had a frank, candid fluid and spiritual conversation with my neighbor and friend John Bruel. John, his wife Sally and their 3 boys spent 3 years in the Dominican Republic on a missionary journey to impact and improve the lives of many, many people. They were sent by THEIR angels, Sally as a nurse and John as a savvy technical spirit, and the work they did there can humbly be called an assist from above. They live an abundant life with all that they give.

Our conversation, in that spiritual high ground, mixed John’s feelings to mine, which covered different religious influences, Jesuit philosophy, Christianity and the belief that God is in the air, in the trees, in the lake, even in the wings of the circling hawks….he later gifted me with a book I am certain I both read and dissected in Father Becker’s Literature class at SI in 1973. Needless to say, it now begs a second reading, and at John’s urging, I am now engulfed.

To that end, God is in my neighbor, Matt Chaney, my first friend when I moved to Lafayette and my greatest inspiration. “Chane-Dawg,” as he is more than affectionately known around these parts, has been living with ALS for 13 years, the symptoms of which first appeared when he kept mysteriously dropping his guitar pick. I cannot begin to describe what he and his inspiring life have meant to me, my family and our community at large. His motto on the ALS wrist band I have worn for years is “Never Give Up,” and he lives that minute to minute. He and his muchachos have created shortcuts in ways for Matt to remain integrated in life….let me share an example. There is a new/old game called Cornhole, where you toss small bean bags towards a ramped wooden platform, the goal being to get it in the hole. Equal parts horseshoes and Fascination (Santa Cruz Boardwalk) it is a fun back yard game. A couple Fridays back, in a little Happy Hour scenario, Matt challenged me to a game. Let me begin by telling you Matt’s arms and hands for the most part, no longer work, so he tosses the bags WITH HIS FEET! I won 21-17, but I ain’t bragging. He was this far from beating me WITH HIS FEET, the ones that have the toes that change the TV remote and type his eloquent, humorous and thought provoking emails.

There is zero doubt that God is working through Matt for the insanely over-the-top benefit to individuals, family and the surrounding community. Happy Hour with Chane-Dawg is a very descriptive term.

Musically, I have been inspired by the words teachings and attitudes of Jimmy Cliff, who I saw at the Fillmore last month, the same Jimmy Cliff who holds the dubious honor of being the only performer I’ve ever missed while holding tickets, last September of 2012. He, along with a select short list of other acts, has provided the inspirational musical soundtrack to my life, and he did not disappoint. Tears of joy streamed down my face as the Father of Reggae music put it all out, dead center 20 feet away. Yes, God is working through him, too.

Kiki and I had the chance to enjoy a Furthur show at Berkeley’s Greek Theatre with Lori &  Bill Walton a couple of weeks back. Furthur is Grateful Dead alumnus Bob Weir and Phil Lesh’s band. Filled with friends for decades, the bowl was an inviting place to re-connect with many, from the comfort of the soundboard. Bill and I were able to relive our Grateful Dead touring days from the ‘80’s and ‘90’s  together again in story and song, with glances and smiles, winks and nods that spoke volumes without volume. You want a definition of quality time, that was it. We grabbed them at the Oakland airport in the morning, got them back there post-show, and we all four loved every minute of it. Bill has been mentioned many times before in my various missives and do know that for inspiration, support, guidance and the imparting of the coveted “championship mentality,” there are few equals. And we both know that without saying a word. Oddly enough, Lori & Bill saw Jimmy Cliff the same week down in San Diego, BW calling it one of the best concerts he’s ever seen (that’s saying something, he has huge numbers) and Lori expressing her surprise that Jimmy is black. We all had a good laugh at the one!

Finally, I had some recent appointments with my Ear Nose & Throat guy as well as my Oncologist, and all is well. Just had my 3^rd scan post treatment, this one a CT scan and I am still boasting an NED diagnosis, No Evidence of Disease. The oncologist however, warns about cigarettes and alcohol and how susceptible my mouth is now. The former has never been in the equation but if he’s telling me my Kona Longboard Ale’s are in jeopardy, well, we gotta talk. Beer tastes good again, has for many months now, but waking up to my cacophonous forest aviary in my extended yard remains the priority, so we’ll continue to monitor that situation. Film at 11 on that item…..

The Bongo Man Has Come.

TS

 

September 2^nd 2013

 

Labor Day already, huh? “Summertime done, come and gone, my oh my”…….man, I don’t know how I slowed my life down so drastically last calendar year to attend to my health, my fatigue, my pain……but I did….and just like a trampoline, life came springing back twice as fast. You all know I am Johnny Energy, so shutting it down last year was both a trial and a lesson.

Something tells me I am making up for lost time now….in early August Sam and I, along with two other Dads and their sons, Sam’s classmates and high end “bros,” took an Alpine hiking/camping trip up to Lake Aloha in the Desolation Wilderness. We started with a boat trip across Echo Lake and then the ascent began….and didn’t end for 3 hours. I had 35 pounds on my back t’boot.

Needless to say, I trained hard for this trip, as best I could, in the hills behind my house, at the Club on the bike, swimming, and then do that all over again. Understand that in March/April I couldn’t get up the stairs at my office without big time help from the hand rail…..my sciatica had taken all my leg strength away in my left leg, which is still thinner and weaker than my right. But trudge ahead I did…..Sam had gone with these folks last summer when I couldn’t walk to the front door. I was DETERMINED to make this trip with my son, before he started HS, and to myself as a challenge that I put out ahead of me as a goal.

And I did it…..remember, we had to come back down….as Tom Petty says….”coming down is the hardest part.”  But it wasn’t a race, and we took our time, and completed this Alpine camping affair with flying colors. Plus, we squeezed in a monster day hike on the full day we were up there, sans pack but at 9,200 feet, so there!

Hell yes, I’m proud of me. And Sam was so happy to have me, I know it. I hope he too was proud. It was great getting coached and encouraged by him, kind of a change of duties, since I’ve been doing that to him all his life.

So, there was a high…..I’ve got another high, but have to touch of some lows/realities in the words to come as well……my next high comes from a friend previously mentioned in the blog, Karl Noonan. Karl was my boss at the bar when I worked in St. Thomas back in ‘84/’85. He was a member of the undefeated Miami Dolphins 1972 Super Bowl team, a wide receiver and a very special man. He, too, has been challenged by cancer, having overcome some nasty stuff in the past couple of years….do you remember, his was the name I put on my Stand Up To Cancer card in Game One of the World Series last year….the same night Pablo hit the 3 HR’s, the same night Sam put MY name on his card right next to me.

Well, “Noons,” just had a very special day, a day he calls one of the greatest of his life, when the Dolphins were hosted at the White House by President Obama just a couple of weeks back. I was SO happy for him, so proud…..champions joining together to share, yet again, relative perfection. There he was with his brothers, missing a few now, but together again in jubilation. Sure wish I could’ve joined him. Karl Noonan, #89, forever a champion in the books, and to me.

Sam started HS this past week, on a high, excited, reunited after a lazy summer with a few trips in it….basketball and the open gyms start up soon. He’s out of shape, but willing to wake up with me at 6:30 on Labor Day to head to the gym and get 300 shots in…..we have seen Mickey McConnell, since graduated and Beau Levesque and Treaven Duffy from the St. Mary’s Gaels over there working out, so Sam gets that champions beat the roosters to the feed…plus, they remember him from his ball boy duties and love to watch him grow.

So, the house has been on a high, we are empowered by our friendships, my big Client Appreciation Party on July 28^th when Kiki’s band, Dream Posse, tore it up in the backyard to a catered affair…..I am so thankful and grateful for my health, my ability to hack my way through “Truckin’” and laugh about it.

I am one blessed guy, and examples of why surround me…..when I was diagnosed last winter with cancer, our neighbor and Kiki’s friend for 30 plus years, Kim Webb was also diagnosed. Hers was a very aggressive form of breast cancer that had advanced quickly and hit her hard. After a brief remission, it came back with a furor two months ago, and shockingly, took her life on August 20^th. She was 54 years old. She leaves behind her husband John, and 3 sons, the youngest of whom started his junior year the day after his Mother’s services…..read that again…..shit. We drive by her home with sorrow and sadness every day, multiple times, in disbelief and shock, wondering how the boys will move forward….what to say, what to do, they are still in shock and frozen in their tracks.

So, the other two people diagnosed within 30 days of me last year have passed away, John Bacchini from SI ’75 and now Kim…..it scares me.

I was the recipient of another CT scan last Wednesday, results of which are due Tuesday. I figure if it was bad I’d have heard, but I do await the call with some mild trepidation…..also knowing it is in my rear view…so it balances out…..but now, to the most pressing topic, my brother from SI ’75, Jerome Williams. I have known Jerome since basketball try outs in 1971, and later a debate class, where TS met his match. Jerome can talk, persuade, cajole, caress and magnify with every word….but he has a devil in his body now, an aggressive prostrate cancer that affects African American men way, way worse than their Caucasian counterparts, and has limited him in some of his options. He needs twice the prayers I did, and I am asking all of you who faithfully follow me to jump on board and help….help, help….send him a card, tell him he can do it, encourage him to keep working and NEVER give up.

Cheryl & Jerome Williams

353 Holloway Drive

SF CA 94112

 

Let’s blow his mind and inundate him with mail. Tell him you’re on my team, and now you are on HIS. The power of the handwritten note is huge, it helped me so much, so please, to my angels, take a minute and encourage him and Cheryl…….you have no idea what it will mean to him.

And don’t forget Mark Petit referred to in an earlier blog. He is in Boston and is going through the HPV cancer that I did, but having some severe symptoms and has a battle on his hands. Mark-Petit.blogspot.com Help him too.

Hell, help everyone you see, just help. Open a door, say hello, thank someone, write a note. Be that person.

 

It’s getting to be time for Kick-Off,

TS

 

July 20^th, 2013                   

 

I simply cannot believe it has been so long since I last posted any info…..I’d be a bit surprised if any of you were still checking in….but my old roomie and dear friend, Bob “Bucko” Dennis just blasted me today for NOT posting, so I have succumbed.

Gonna be hard to pull in all the slack, so I’ll hit the important stuff….note that I didn’t say highlights, cause that isn’t the proper terminology.

I have been connected with a guy out in Boston who has the same cancer, and has begun treatment about a month ago. Same stuff, little different treatment. I encouraged him to post just like I have done, and he did. They are treating him a bit differently, from all indications a tad more aggressively, if that is even possible. His name is Mark Petit. His blogspot address is

http://markpetit.blogspot.com/

He’s battling, and working hard. He’s the first guy I have been able to reach down and try to help up the mountain, the first guy with this same cancer. His approach isn’t the same as mine, he just got his feeding tube, and he is struggling. Feel free to check in with him and tell him you’re on my team and that he can do it.

Back to me…..the end of this month will be ONE YEAR since the end of treatment. I have been told that time will pass in such a way that you’ll look back and wonder when you were even in treatment. I’m not there yet, but coming up on a year is great. My radiologist told me this past week that my recovery is in the 98^th percentile of fellas with this cancer. He doesn’t see this kind of improvement till sometimes 2 years out.

I feel good. I am back at the Club working out, sweating hard, getting my leg stronger after that almost 5 month bout with sciatica…..that was a bitch, and took me seriously off track. We got our vacation in June, over to Wailea, Maui with my sister and her family along with Mary & Matt Kircher and their family. That was a beautiful thing, I spent my birthday, June 14^th, up on the top deck of Mick Fleetwood’s (Fleetwood Mac’s drummer) restaurant watching the sun set over Lanai and listening to a cool band with Kiki while Sammy watched a movie back at the Pioneer Inn. That might have been the greatest exhale of my life, other than the one in March where I was told I am currently showing NED….No Evidence of Disease. We stayed there one night while waiting for the clan to arrive and transfer over to the nicest house I’ve ever stayed in on a point in Wailea. Thanks to PA & Matt for winning the OLA auction and treating us.

We also recently returned from San Diego for a long weekend, stayed at Club Red (MY moniker for Bill Walton’s home and grounds) in Balboa Park. BW graciously offers his home to our family at every turn. Kiki and I stayed in the “Grateful Dead Room” (imagine that) while Sammy and his buddy alternated between the “Bob Dylan Room” and the teepee out in the desert part of the grounds. The garden is maintained by the same folks who tend to the San Diego Zoo, so at any time, I’m looking for a chimp to swing from tree to tree. He also has the world’s greatest spa, with waterfalls, rocks, caves, OH MY. That was a great getaway. Some of you saw us in the front row behind the plate TH night, and then we took in Lincecum’s no-hitter on Saturday night, after enjoying a wonderful dinner with Billy Kennedy, my classmate from both SI and SCU, an old friend and arguably the greatest heckler I have ever known. Most of my stuff is original, but I will tell you that Billy was my greatest influence!

A couple of realities….anxiety….still get it, still cope with it, the net net is that as I have mentioned before, my “hourglass” has turned over and I realize I am now living the rest of my life…..the anxiety is weird, fleeting, but understand, definitely NOT winning out. I’m eating well, if not more slowly, I have my weight at about 180, and am reading a book we ALL should read called “Younger Next Year,” by Chris Crowley and Henry Lodge MD. These guys talk about what it really takes to live into your 70’s and 80’s in a healthy, happy and fit way. It takes all the perception we have about what we would consider exercise and turns it on its head.  We are simply fooling ourselves if we think walking on a golf course or taking the dog for a walk is doing the trick. These guys are about heart rate and more. I can’t describe how motivational it is….or maybe depressing, depending on how you look at it. Check it out, I urge you, especially the fellas reading this blog.

It’s the fitness thing I missed, not to say I was fit (not by this book’s definition) but just the getting out and getting the heart going. I’m up to ½ a mile in the pool at the Club, and the goal there is a mile by the fall. That’s 72 lengths, and that isn’t that easy….but it sure does beat the alternative, which I do recall. It’s a good buzz. Coupled with more stretching and throwing some weights around, it’s starting to come around.

Selling houses, and at this rate, I will beat last year, which was my best year ever! So, that’s exciting. Hosting a big group at ATT Park for Grateful Dead night on August 5^th, Bill will be back up for that as the grand host, and lots of my tour buddies will be with us.

My last blog closed with a reflection on John Bacchini, who we lost in April…..sure as shit, I’ve got another sick classmate from SI ’75, Jerome Williams. Jerome has been like a brother to me for many, many years, and was one of my very TOP supporters this past year. Now, he needs y’all’s love and prayers, as he has an aggressive prostate cancer that he has only recently learned of…..he has a major battle on his hands, and this one has hit me square in the gut, hard…..I love Jerome and his beautiful wife Cheryl. He is the cat that organizes our annual trip to see Tower of Power….his folks hailed from New Orleans where his mother sang and his father played the drums and jazz trumpet. He is currently working on scholarship programs for African American students in San Francisco that wish to attend SI. He is a leader, an inspiration, a lover of life and a deep thinker. He is my brother and I pray for him every day. Those of you who know him know what I am talking about….to those of you who don’t, can you send some of that great juju you sent and continue to send to me, and parse some of it over to Jerome? He needs it more than I do now. Surgery, chemo, radiation, it’s all on its way, and he needs the love. Do it for me, and do it for ‘Rome…..he’ll feel it, cause that’s how he is.

Thanks again, Bucko, for getting me to the keyboard, and thanks for reading all the way through.

Signing off as TomCat,

May Day, May Day, May Day!!!!                                                                                                       5-1-13

 

Remember Sam “May Day” Malone in Cheers? Today is his day……Ladies and Gentlemen, we are now a hair over 9 plus months out of treatment……rolling down the highway.  I’m doing soooo much better than a year ago at this time, knee deep in the 3^rd round of chemo. Objects in mirror are actually farther than they appear……

The port is out, you should have seen that thing. It looked like a little mouse, had a good sized raised spot they aimed the needles at and then it went down a tube that had been inserted in a vein going to my heart. That’s what all ports do, they have to get to the blood subway system. Didn’t debate the topic for long as it went in the trash that evening….I’m a collector but c’mon, not this thing. Still have the gargantuan mask that they pinned me down with every day, but the port is outta here. The mask could end up being a pretty cool piece of art if it ended up in the right hands…..

Opening weekend at AT&T Park was off the hook. We won OD 1-0 and got a calendar. We lost on Saturday but got a Buster Posey MVP Bobblehead, and got smoked Sunday but it didn’t matter one bit…..we got a ring……quite possibly the greatest fan giveaway in the history of Western Civilization. Many of you saw Kiki and I on local TV last Monday night showing off our bling on Comcast. Evidently we got hella air time……it helps to hang around with beauty, but I thought I looked pretty good, thanks to all of you who sent video and photos. Of particular note were my new (as of late 2011) implants…..what you say…..yes, new  teeth, #8 and #9 also known as the front teeth. They were broken in a Little League soft toss warm up by our league’s version of Dave Kingman. He hit that sucker so hard off the fence that it came back at hyper speed……broke em under the gum, so that was my 2011 deal. Dr. Dan Barry, DDS and SI ’75 came to the rescue and did some great work on #7 and #10 while he was at it…..shout out…..back to the rings. As my seat neighbor said, “I have 14 years of paying for a Charter Seat, 2 tickets every year, that I feel a part of it all, this is so apropos, I’m wearing it EVERYDAY!”

He’s right…..and my twist is that it signifies a reward, a championship ring for going through all that we, as a family, went through in 2012. That whole baseball season, as anyone who has followed this knows, was what got me through, the rhythm, the consistency, the joy and eventually, the wild abandon of celebration, after 6 times facing the brink.

The whole thing is NOT lost on me, so yep, I wear mine EVERYDAY too. And it’s awesome.

Our 4^th seat that day was occupied by grammar school classmate Dr. Tom Hales, Burlingame High ’75, Stanford ’79, Case Western ’83 and currently living in Cincinnati. He was out to visit some family and took that bling BACK to Cincy, where they were just a Buster Posey Grand Slam away from getting smoked by the Cards!

Trust me, that’s the ONLY SF Giants ring in Cincy.

Watch for an email blast about a video Kiki has been working on celebrating just that season and that victory…..it’ll be on YouTube soon and we think you’ll really like it. Mote info soon come.

And finally, a prayer and some reflection for the life and times of John Louis Bacchini, SI ’75 who we lost in mid-April, succumbing to a valiant battle with an aggressive cancer. John’s treatment paralleled mine, and I last saw him at our SI Class lunch at Alioto’s in December. He was brave and fighting it hard then, and gave me great support. Now, I remain and John is gone. He was larger than life, a big man and the center of his community in Burlingame, a passionate member  at his parish, OLA, the leader of his ‘50’s and ‘60’s doo-wap band, Johnny B. and the Speedshifters, the best Dad to his 19 year old daughter Emma and a successful realtor on the Peninsula. The church was dark on a Friday night, hundreds of candles providing light and warmth, and there was an overflow topping out at about 1,200 people…..lucky for me, Rita Arnold was with me, herself a 5 year out cancer survivor, and we went through it together, John being her old friend and neighbor…I am inspired by John’s life, enriched by our common brotherhood, moved by the Jesuit ideals under which Johnny B operated, and saddened beyond belief for the absolute best friends he left behind, Julio, Jim, Ed, En-Cat, the guy had 20 people who would say he was their best friend…….that’s rich…..

Yep, that one got to me, folks, there but for the grace of God go I……and none of those left behind get to come with you……just miss you, mourn you, celebrate you, remember you, toast you, pass you on……kinda like Springsteen when he crowd surfs…….just don’t drop him!

Tile the next time, thanks for reading,

Way down in Louisiana close to New Orleans,

TS

March 25^th, 2013                                             8 Whole Months Outta Treatment

 

Hey Now Everybody,

 

Man, time does fly……in a good way this time. I just hit the 8 month mark, with my sights on the 2 year mark. With the HPV-16 virus, if it comes back, it does so quickly, and that is why we are so diligent right now. As you all know, the November PET scan showed NED---No Evidence of Disease…..in February, I went to my ENT Doctor and he scoped down my throat and saw nothing. He is the Doctor that ID’d the original tumors after the biopsy, so he has the tools to see the dang things. So, that cleared up. My Radiologist likes how I look, how I am filling out, up to 175 now, my SI basketball playing weight. Working on re-distributing that a bit now.

The topper is that just a week ago I had a second PET scan and it too came back NED! So, milestones are occurring and we are moving down the line. I am now in the process of scheduling the removal of the port in my upper chest that fed me the chemo cocktails. We wanted to wait till the 2^nd scan showed NED. I look forward to the removal of the port, it is a tell tale reminder of things and it’s blowing my trip a little bit now.

Want some fun news? I have been quite active, with Sam and Kiki…..Kiki and I hit NYC and saw the Allman Brothers Band at The Beacon Theatre at 75^th/Broadway. They played quite possibly the greatest set I’ve ever seen them play. Like the Grateful Dead, every show is different and we only heard one repeat over the 2 nights….and that was Statesboro Blues, hardly a throwaway. Kiki connected with a LONG lost friend from Philly before we traveled and went down to hang with her a couple of days post shows. As usual, we were treated to some nice inside activities through our band’s connection, and we are blessed to have experienced what we did.

I was able to attend a party a couple of weeks back that had so many of my SI brothers there  in celebration of Erin & Bob Enright’s impending parenthood…..I love these guys, so energetic and supportive. 5 guys from our team in 1975 were there…..a band of brothers, quite similar to the ABB noted above….McCat, O’Cat, Lou-Cat, En-Cat, TomCat…..

Sam and I headed down to San Jose to take in 6 games of the NCAA tourney. Yes, 6…That was a long day last TH…..we saw Cal beat Vegas, Syracuse beat Cal and a bunch of others. Good seats AND tons of guys I knew circling around the Shark Tank……fins to the left, fins to the right……

The back is improving, strength is returning to my leg, but there are remnants of sciatica, pains in the knee and calf…..but certainly manageable at this point.

Closing 2 deals THIS week, a listing is coming mid-April and the wheel keeps rolling….not enough houses, anywhere, in any Bay Area county, so keep me in mind if you hear anything J

To those of you that keep checking in, I can’t believe you and I appreciate it. The process of being a survivor takes work, too. I’m ready and willing…..see you on the flip.

 

I Got One More Silver Dollar,

TS

 

March 6^th, 2013                                                                                 7 plus months outta treatment

 

Where do I start?  I am rolling back into things steady freddy…..concerts, coaching, selling, traveling…..it is all bundled in. Lighting out with Kiki to NYC on Friday morning for a quick weekend with the Allman Brothers Band at the famed Beacon Theatre at 77^th and Broadway…..they are simply the best right now, rivaled in America only by the E St Band, and they, and that, is a totally different conversation. The ABB is just flat out low down dirty, growling, majestic, soothing and inspiring. I understand our seats for FR are in the first couple of rows, back a little bit on Saturday.

Our guests Saturday eve are my gals from NBA Entertainment who take such good care of Sam and I when we head off to NBA All Star Weekend…..which we did mid February. On a jaunt to Houston, too close to New Orleans, Sam and I had another bacchanal of basketball, hanging around the tall guys….Sam worked the restricted lobby like a pro, getting the autographs of the rookies, the slam dunk competitors, the 3-point competitors and ideally, the idols….again, just a bump into LeBron, he wouldn’t sign jack, but there he was in the flesh.

The Sunday Legends Brunch, the highlight of the weekend, featured the famous Houston Rockets of the past, Hakeem, Clyde the Glide, Rudy T, Dikembe Mutumbo, Calvin Murphy…..the speeches were inspiring, the room just packed with the history of the NBA at every table. Bill Russell, Barkley, Magic, Moses Malone, Rick Barry, Dominique…..everywhere you looked, a Legend.

Sam’s a good little traveler, a good wing man, sleeps quietly, doesn’t stay out late! We have a blast…..next year, New Orleans, and he’ll be 14 ½…..what a quandary….we have time to figure that one out.

The back is better, acupuncture did it. Took a good 2 mos, and I am still managing it with a little Aleve and Ibuprofen. Handled the plane to and fro to H’town, JFK is next.

Sold two houses this week, one in February, and I am battling for another one in Rockridge right now. SCORED one for an SI alum and his beautiful wife (all SI guys have beautiful wives, you can look it up) via a tip from a neighbor….popped by while walking Jammer, he agreed to allow my clients to come over the following day. He is a broker, sold it to me at an agreed upon commish (standard) and voila, a sale in the hood without ANYBODY hearing about the house. One of my best works, for sure.

The market is fast and furious, and securing one for these buyers was a stroke of luck, to be sure. Remember what I told you in the past about my angels? Well, they descended again and blessed me….keep your eyes open, they’ll come into your day or night when you least expect it….we all have ‘em…..

Saw the radiologist this week, the ENThroat guy two weeks ago…..they all like what they “don’t” see right now….got a PET Scan scheduled for March 14^th, when that shows clear, I will have them remove the “port” in my chest they used to feed me the chemo. I’m ready for that to come out. My biggest risk of recurrence, by a long shot, is the first two years. I am 7 mos into that, and the goal is 5 years clean…..that will coincide with a 60^th birthday, so celebration will be in order.

Still got to admit, there is a still lingering anxiety about the overall deal….I work on it from time to time, not always, it just pops up at weird times…..the perspective here is that I am being poked, scanned and viewed WAY more often than you, so I am ahead of things in terms of anybody finding anything weird….it is an expensive way to fly, but I’ll hit the deductible soon….keeping the weight seteady in the mid 170’s, which is 25 under my prior weight….as strength returns, so will muscle and then a few pounds. I am tapping into ALL of my patience genes and hanging on, but should be returning to workouts, some yoga later this month. I’ve been swimming some, and that is nice.

Not on this BLOG enough, but I know y’all are out there, so here’s a bit more to chew on. I’m sure it sounds like I’m back in the swing of things, and from 5,000 feet it looks like that…..doesn’t always feel that way, but I am getting better.

Till next we pass upon each other, know that I still feel you all out there. I am humbled daily.

I Can’t Give it Away on 7^th Avenue!

 

TS