Crazy Days

Yesterday and today = crazy days.

I spent yesterday battling Joe Biden for room on the front page of the Scranton Times Tribune. One of the reporters of the paper wrote a nice, long article about me for the Sunday paper. #localcelebrity. I had a bunch of friends and neighbors reach out to me to comment on the article. I am really pleased with the article – although I am sure there are many more interesting people in this city. I am also happy to charge $20-30 per autograph.

Today was a crazy day. It is the first day of my first chemo cycle. The first thought in my mind as I woke up was “chemo.” I wanted to stay in bed and not face the day. After about 20 minutes of laying in bed with the word “chemo” shouting at me I got up and got moving. I have four pills to take today. It should have been easy – but I spent a good time sitting at the table staring at the pills. I thought of nothing but chemo for the first two hour of the day. That included a trip to the local Rite Aid to get anti-nausea medication. Nothing but chemo….what is it going to do to me? How am I going to feel? How sick am I going to get? How tired will I be? Will I be able to do what I need to be doing? Nothing but chemo.

I spent some time listening to familiar worship songs on youtube after I returned from the pharmacy. The songs settled me down and centered me in the providence and power of God. I finally ended up taking the pills around 11:00 in the morning.

Taking the pills raised a buttload of questions as well. What do I do now? When am I going to feel this? What is it going to feel like? How long will it feel like that? If I eat lunch, will I get sick?

I have felt fine most of the day, just really tired. I don’t sense any other side effects at this time. I took a two hour nap this afternoon – and four hours later I am tired again.

So – day one of chemo in the books. A week to rest up and my next treatment is next Monday.