BEAR PAW Meanderings

 

December 30, 2015



It is the end of another year and, as usual, I am glad and sad both. I am glad that I made it through and it looks like I am going to see 2016. I am sad because it was a year that could have been so much better.

Hindsight is always great and I learned a lot about having prostate cancer this year. More than I had learned in the twelve years I have had it.

I went into the taking of chemo therapy as just another simple treatment. I soon learned that it is anything but simple. Five percent of people who take chemo for prostate cancer, get symptoms of congenitive heart failure. That was me. For two months I could hardly walk at all. And yet, with the help of a good friend, I had one of the most beautiful flower gardens I have ever had.

And I am better! I no longer gasp when going up stairs and I no longer go up one step at a time. And, I can lift my leg to get in the car without it being a major issue.

It is amazing what medicine can do these days. I just hope that the side effects I don’t know about from this batch of pills, does not kill me off before it tends to cure me!

It looks like I can have another year of growing dahlias and another year of just being myself. That is good. No, that is great for there was a time this year when I didn’t think I would ever be able to say those words.

I supply dahlias to my church every Sunday in the summer. It was a huge issue to get those dahlias into the car, to the church, to the altar and then to get myself to a pew much less find a bulletin somewhere. None of that is true now. Of course there are no dahlias to supply but you know what I mean.

Some would say prayers do get answered. I say that as well!

When thinking back on the year as it mapped itself out for me, I am reminded of the four small paintings by Charlie Russell. They were titled, “A little sunshine, a little rain; a little pain and a little gain” or something like that. Anyway, you get the message. That was my year and it probably was your year too.

Here’s hoping 2016 is better for all of us and is as welcome as the buttercups in May in the beautiful Bear Paw Mountains!

 
 

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