Stories We Need On Life’s Edge

Our culture likes its heroes undaunted, especially in the stories we tell.  When I did end up writing the scary-robot show, I found myself clashing with executives.  I argued that bravery in the face of death shouldn’t be the protagonists’ default setting.  Because when we glorify strength without showing empathy for weakness, we end up with a toxic version of heroism, one that links bravery to goodness and cowardice to getting what you deserve.
And when we do that, we can no longer tell stories of grace, or forgiveness, or connectedness.  We can no longer tell stories about real people — the ones who fail, the ones who are afraid and the ones who let themselves and others down.  These are the stories we need more than ever, especially those of us walking on life’s edge.
—    Josh Friedman
From his opinion editorial:  “It’s O.K. to be a coward about cancer“
Appearing in:  Time Magazine, 7 August 2017
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On This Day In:
2022	Caution Before Starting…
2021	Are You A Loner?
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2020	I Wish Republicans Valued Democracy As Much As They Say They Value Freedom
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2019	Something Very Different
2018	For Most Of Us
2017	Stories We Need On Life’s Edge
2016	Heart Trouble
2015	From The Inside Out
2014	Alone And Free
2013	Superstition Is Your Way
2012	Escape Hatches
2011	Sing Like No One Is Listening

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Big C, Little B (II)

Roughly two years ago, my brother was diagnosed with cancer on his tongue.  They operated on his tongue and removed a good chunk and they had a good look around inside his throat glands.  They hoped they got it all, but a few weeks ago another lump started to appear.
Today they had their second go at him.  They removed the lump and the immediate biopsy was negative for cancer!  (Yea!!)
They’ve kept him over-night for observation and for his dialysis.  He usually goes Tues / Thurs / Sat, but with the procedure today, he got pushed back a day.
Anyway, we’re all relieved and praying for a speedy recovery.
God is great and God’s blessings are many!
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On This Day In:
2023	Just Agree To Disagree
2022	There Is No Fate But What You Make
2021	The Silent Word
	Touched My Hand (I Will Follow Him)
2020	Releasing Their Fears
2019	17 Days Until The Next Government Shutdown
2018	Disciplined Models
2017	We Cannot Afford Enemies
2016	Love Is Just A State Of Mind (The World I Use To Know)
2015	Waiting?
2014	Big C, Little B (II)
	Where God Has Not
2013	Chasing His Dragon
	Shaped And Molded
2012	Believe In Yourself
2011	Cultural Equivalence
	Why Not?
	Books About Books
	The Basis For Adult Continuing Education

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Bits And Bobs And Birthdays

First off, Happy Birthday to my younger brother Sean!!
You gave us quite a scare with all this Cancer business back in December and January.   Fortunately, you’ve come through for another BD (and hopefully, many more to come).
As to my own health, I’m still working through gallstones.  I’ve got my gall bladder removal scheduled for early May so (fingers crossed) I can start getting back to working out and losing some weight.
I was doing some random browsing and I stumbled on an article about how few Catholics have actually read the Holy Bible from cover to cover.  Well, I must admit to being one of those who haven’t.  So, I’ve decided to rectify that.  This week I started at page one.  I’ll periodically be posting thoughts and quotes as I go along.  I’m not going off the religious deep end (well, anymore than usual), but I would like to be able to say I’ve read the Bible all the way through at least once in my life.  (Ego rearing it’s ugly head, again.)
As a coincidence, I’m also currently struggling through a book which is an introduction to calculus.  I took analytic geometry / pre-calc when I was in high school, but I never had much of a math requirement when I went through college, so I never had to get stuck into calculus.  I wouldn’t say I’ve regretted it, but calculus has always been one of those topics I’ve never been able to discuss – because I’m ignorant of it.  (Hmmm, I wonder how many will say that’s never stopped me talking about other things I was ignorant of.)  Anyway, I’m slogging through an intro to calculus book, too.
My oldest daughter is off on a business trip to Washington, D.C.  She had a few hours off, so she texted me she was doing some sight-seeing at the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial.  It brought back memories of my only trip to D.C., back when I was in the Army, and I took a long weekend off to visit.  When I was growing up, I saw a photo of some kids playing in the reflecting pool in front of the Lincoln Memorial.  I thought, “I’d like to do that some time…”  Well, I didn’t play, but I did soak my feet.  It was a typical hot, muggy, Washington afternoon and the water was terrifically refreshing!  If you ever get to D.C. in the summer, I highly recommend it.
Anyway, my daughter’s text was that the Cherry blossom’s were out in full force.  I was (am) soooo jealous!!  I’ve always wanted to see the Washington Cherry blossom season.  (Is it a “season“, when it’s only a couple of weeks long?)  Oh, well, some other year…  Another item for the bucket list.
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On This Day In:
2023	What My Dog Thinks About Her Daily Walk… (The 59th Street Bridge Song, Daddy Don’t You Walk So Fast)
	Still Sunny
2022	Following His Own Path
2021	Show A Brother Some Love
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2020	Especially You, Bro
	Words Without Explanation
2019	Enjoy!
2018	Happy Birthday, Bro!
2017	Love Can Change The World In A Minute (What Do I Know)
2016	60, Little Bro!
2015	Vision and Courage
2014	58 – Little Bro
2013	New Adventures And Old Hopes
	Caving In
2012	Bits And Bobs And Birthdays
	Always Hope
2011	Wet Snow And Long Hills

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Best Resolv’d

Back on 17 July 2010, I added two pages for two of my favorite poems (sonnets) by Elizabeth Barrett Browning.  I also added a post (Browning…) which included a little poem I used to read on the bus going to school.  I noted in the post that I wasn’t sure I was remembering it correctly (or well), but it now seems I got it pretty close.
Today I was going through one of my old journals and found the source and then was able to look up the whole of the poem – which I have also added as a page off of my Poems tab.
The poem seems to go by a couple of different names.  One is:  “Song” and the other is the first line of the poem:  “I prithee send me back my heart”.  The author is Sir John Suckling.
The particular verse I really like is:
“But love is such a mystery,
I cannot find it out:
For when I think I’m best resolv’d,
I then am in most doubt.“
It turns out the other verses are fairly good too.  Anyway, I hope you have a moment to enjoy the poem (and maybe take a second look at Browning’s sonnets).
Hammerin’:
Tonight I finally got around to watching the “Thor” DVD my son (James) gave me for Christmas.  We saw the movie when it was out at the cinema and both enjoyed it.  I actually think I liked the movie more this time.  I seemed to follow the story more and got more out of the dialogue (which was actually pretty funny).  I did find the movie did not translate to the smaller screen as well, though – particularly the scenes in Asgard.  Strangely enough, the scenes where Thor uses Mjolnir (his magic hammer) seemed more realistic on the smaller screen than they did at the theater.  So, like I said, mixed reactions, but I enjoyed it.
More good news:
I got off the phone with my brother who reports his doctor got the final results of the biopsy on his throat and it confirmed the preliminary finding – there is no cancer in his lymph nodes.  Very good news to start the weekend.
And lastly:  Go Niners, beat the NY Giants!!!
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On This Day In:
2023	Share Love
2022	Biden Starts His Second Year
2021	DIY: Outdoor Gym Modifications (2)
	Inauguration Day 2021 (The Boys Are Back In Town)
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2020	Posting As A Continual Exercise
2019	Border Security – Yes, Border Wall – No
2018	Supporting Survival Values
2017	Inauguration Day 2017  [Sometimes, I hate it when I’m right!   —   kmab]
2016	Or A Pot Of Gold After The Storm
2015	One, Two, Three…
2014	Lend Your Hand
2013	Amnesty, n.
2012	Best Resolv’d
	The Clock Is Running
2011	Magic

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Tearful Joy!!

As I was getting into my car to drive home this evening, I got a call from my brother.  Through croaky voice he told me he’s home from the hospital and the biopsy shows no more cancer in his tongue, throat or lymph glands!!
We only spoke for a minute or two.  I was laughing and sobbing at the same time.  I don’t believe I’ve ever experienced “tearful joy” before, but I’m happy to say I certainly have now.
I love you, Bro!!  That was the most welcome news I’ve heard in quite some time…
After a few more laughs, tears and pounding on the steering wheel (and a quick thank-you prayer), I was able to drive home.
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On This Day In:
2023	A Goal Or THE Goal?
2022	No Ulterior Motive
2021	A Soul Passing
	I Hear You Singing In The Wire (Wichita Lineman)
	Thank You, Georgia!
2020	Implications
2019	Just To…
2018	Still Going…
2017	Great Risk
2016	Robbery
2015	Humanity Plus
2014	Dinner For Two?
2013	Exercise For Those Over 50
2012	Tearful Joy!!
	Except When He’s Left

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Big C, Little B

Back on December 14, my younger brother (Sean) called and I made a typically crude male joke about a recent “minor” procedure he just had to remove a sore on his tongue.  He’d had a similar procedure about five years ago, so it didn’t seem like a big deal.  His response shook me:  “Yeah, about that.  I’ve got cancer.”
Of course I didn’t believe him and thought he was trying to punk me with a riff off of my joke, but when I said, “Man, you’re just kiddin’.”  He replied, “No, really.  I just got off the phone with the doctor and they just got the biopsy back.”
I felt dizzy…
We spoke for a few moments.  I told him how much I love him and how I’m here if he needs anything.  He broke down crying and said he had to hang up now.
I waited about an hour and called back.  We talked some more and he sounded better.  He apologized for earlier and said he just had to get used to the news so he could move forward.
About a week later, I went to the doctor with him and his doctor said it was “good news, bad news”.  The good news was the earlier operation appeared to be successful and they got it all off of his tongue.  They took off a bit around it and there was no cancer there (more good news).  But just to be safe (the bad news), my brother really should agree to another – more lengthy – exploratory procedure in his neck (his lymph glands) to see if the cancer has spread.  The doctor was reassuring, saying it was probably only a 25% chance they’d find anything, but better safe than sorry.  He wanted to get my brother’s agreement so he could arrange for the surgery in early January.
Well, to make a longer story shorter, tomorrow is the procedure.  It’s supposed to take 6+ hours, so it’s not a trivial “nip-n-tuck”.
If you believe in God (and I do) or some ultimate force for good in the universe, please offer up a prayer for my little brother.  (He’s bigger than I am, but he’s still my “little” brother.)  If you don’t believe, just think a positive thought for him.  To quote John Coltrane:  “One thought can produce a million vibrations…”
I love you, Bro…
Sean and me at the Grand Canyon
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On This Day In:
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2022	You Ought To Be Having Fun
2021	Democrats Talking To Republicans
	Talkin’ To Myself And Feelin’ Old (Rainy Days And Mondays)
2020	You Are Not Late (Yet)
2019	Too Difficult To Try
2018	Hold Fast
2017	The Only Real Security
2016	Time Said
2015	If Only Common Sense Were More Common
2014	PTI
2013	What Now, Then?
2012	Big C, Little B
	Duty, Honor, Country

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