Beside being without a computer to stay in touch for a solid month I was having some personal issues for a while. Time for me to come clean and face my demons.
Mom died at 74 from cervical cancer. Dad at 61 from lung cancer. I quit smoking three years ago this August...cold turkey. I smoked two packs a day for 31 years. Not so smart with a family history of Cancer. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/banghead.gif" alt="" />
My brother had a prostate check as part of his fiftieth birthday celebration. They found 3 PRE Cancerous nodes. They were removed surgically and that was that.
That was eight years ago. I am the youngest of four by 8,9, an 10 years difference. I will turn 50 this September 9th and in recognition of that momentous occasion in January I had my full exam like my brother before me.
I was not quite so lucky.
The result was 4 nodes...what the hell are they anyway? Nodes that contained the cancer cells. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/doh.gif" alt="" />
Shock, sadness, fear, hopelessness. Only a few of the original emotions I went through as they reports kept coming in. Now the act of dealing with them.
The NODES. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />
They had to go and the follow up would be injections of a poison that kills cancer cells and also has a myriad of nasty side affects. The hair thing really pisses me off.It is caled Chemotherapy.
At one of the surgery times Lew aka Kraz stepped in and put up the money for me to buy a Mutt from The Yard.We had bills up the yang at that time, I was missing days with my wife at work and waiting for customers to send us their money due. Thanks Lew. You will NEVER know how special that act of kindness and selfless love was at that time.
The time I had my first chemotherapy treatment I came home to find a beautiful Olive Drab Kydex sheath made by Ron aka Jeepsrock for my Yard Mutt to knock around in! He thought I should have one and he made it and sent it to me without even asking me to pay for the postage. He had NO idea what I was going through. His act of selfless kindness and love will never be forgotten.
Jeff Law aka rainwalker my personal "Leather Chef" has been creating for me and including free items and gadgets for me to try and evaluate for him. His CONSTANT acts of selfless kindness and love always seem to come at just the right moment as well.
Dan Busse...."wiping tears from my face now"
Dan Busse the owner and spirit behind Scrap Yard Knife Company. Where do you begin? We have all seen his selfless acts of love and generosity day in and day out. Every blade he makes for us is pirated by hoarders and resold at higher profits as a source of second income by some. Dan could easily raise his prices as evident by each issue that sells on the secondary market for more the cost. He refuses to. He leaves money on the table every issue so that real people. People who work their asses off for a buck and barely have two Nichols to rub together can still buy the finest quality blade made. His Scrap Yard issues. He invites his children's teachers over to a cook out every year as his way of saying thanks to them for teaching his children. EVERY teacher from EVERY grade for EVERY child. Can you imagine the planning ,effort and expense that goes into a cook out every year for 70 teachers and more?
Patti must have white hair by now! Dan... no fingernails!
Amazing people doing amazing things HERE in the Scrap Yard Forum. It is a regular occurrence, and second nature to the wonderful people who call the Yard home.
When I whined about being off the air for a solid month due to computer problems it was much more than that. The fix was a hundred dollars. We didn't have it. Period.
Sick as a dog,losing my hair, feeling like I am fighting for my life at 49 while being self employed with my wife for 28 years now. We own a home and business cleaning service.Together we clean tubs, toilets,sinks,laundry rooms,offices,and the nastiest bathrooms in factory's that you could imagine. Being so sick and recovering from surgery some days my loving wife would go by herself while I laid on my back in bed praying for a answer. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crossfingers.gif" alt="" />
Did I mention that through it all she managed to pay $170.00 for a SS-4 for my Fathers Day gift? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/sad.gif" alt="" />
What a woman. Never a word of complaint. As I would see her sweating face and wet hair come dragging in after a day of cleaning without me...I would die a bit inside every time. She NEVER even said she was tired. She kept all the laundry,meals,cheer-leading dates for our daughter and so many other things going while I was inert. How will God ever let me repay her for her love?
Back to Dan Busse, he wrote me a private message and asked for my home address after I had the nerve to whine about not having a fair enough chance to run for the "Coin" as all my dear friends have done. And achieved.
What reason could Dan have for needing my home address? A get well card? He didn't even know how sick I was.
What a class act Dan Busse is.
Too long winded my friends. But I had a lot to vent, and a load to say thanks for so please forgive me.
I love you all in so many different and special ways. Your acts,words, and most of all the laughter you give me day after day has given me hope, inspiration and a true joy that I treasure more that any of you could ever know.
I have 10 days left of Chemotherapy M-F for 2 weeks at 7:15 a.m. after the three hours in the chair we go off to work. Cleaning our butts off. Still,
I am so blessed it's hard for me to know where to begin to give thanks.
I am grateful for every aspect of my life. And so grateful I have the Yard to come to and find my happy place. God Bless you all. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/bowdown.gif" alt="" />
Peace.
