The Last... sort of...

It has been some time since I lasted posted here.  It has been a wild time.  The election ate up quite a bit of time and energy but it was all worth it.  We all do make a difference.  On November 6, Election Day, I drove to the VA for my last scheduled infusion.  I wasn’t an early bird that day.  I had to see to my good friends, Ziggy, Benson and Charlie who took care of me the previous night.  Their regular humans were off to see Ms. Barbra the night before.   I brought my computer [to follow the election] which proved absolutely useless as there was no coverage until that evening.  My oncologist and several of the nurses asked that I bring copies of the PD article for them.  After reading it, one of the nurses walked over to me with a tear in her eye and asked me if I had any doubt that I was well loved.  I have no doubt. Nada, zilch.  There was a bit of a problem finding veins that morning.  I think they have had just about enough and decided to hide.  After several tries by two of the staff I finally waltzed off to never-never land.  My drive to Oakland that afternoon took an hour and a half.  Brother Martin was making meatloaf and mash for dinner and we settled in front of the TV for the evening.  After my comfort food infusion I tried to remain calm as the results started to come in.  Slowly the joy of the evening grew and Ohio went to Obama by 8:30.  The last time I was waiting at Oakland Airport for a late arrival and it wasn’t called until 10 or 11PM.  I remember bursting into tears at that instant.  It may have been the happiest minute of my life.  8:30PM Tuesday evening made me quite happy too.  The next morning I stopped at Mel’s for French toast before reporting to the clinic.  I read the paper cover to cover really pleased with most of the results.  My day was short.  I was through by 1:30.  I was cautioned that since there was probably very little cancer, if any, left that I might experience a different recovery scenario.  I was also given a shot to stimulate the growth of bone marrow/blood cells as they would be hit pretty hard.  It was also suggested that I might experience some hair loss this time.  As I drove home I made a celebratory dinner date with Jim & Dotty at the new Bravas in Healdsburg.  We had a lovely time running into several friends and enjoying exotic taste treats.  The next day it hit me.  “Bone Ache” was the term the nurse used to describe the salient side effect of that last shot.  Well, I spent most of the day unsuccessfully trying to get comfortable.  I watched 8 episodes of “Spiral” [a brilliant and gritty, French crime drama], and didn’t think at all about eating.  NAUSEA!!!  The next day was much the same but less discomfort.  I knew I would be ready to party today.  I hope to see many of you out at Martha’s Vineyard [the local one] this afternoon.  As for the future, I have a PET scan on 12/17 for final confirmation of remission and then I start the maintenance program in mid-January [an infusion of Rituxan every two months for the next two years] after I return from The Palm Springs International Film Festival.