Saturday Night

Told you I was having fun at Kay's, my "party in a box" friend.  We had picked up food, grabbed Mary from her friend and were back home to get ready for the night.  Most of the guests were coming around 7 for dinner, but Kay asked Roddy to come a little sooner.

Kay met Roddy in her yoga class some time back and they became fast friends.  During one of their chats, he mentioned he was a blues singer and pianist.  She was intrigued by that and queried him about where he performed.  Seems as though he was going to be performing in Greenville NC in a few weeks, so Kay called me and suggested John and I try to go.  It was on a Sunday in April and we went....it was wonderful.  John and I introduced ourselves and Roddy became our friend too.  We told him to please let us know when he would be coming back.

Fast forward to January, 2011, on my way home from the doctor's office and my chemo treatment... the phone rings.  It was Kay, "Roddy's going to be in Greenville tonight.  He forgot to alert me till now.  Hope you can go."

We chatted for a few more minutes and then I hung up the phone.  Wow, I would love to hear him sing and play, but I felt so bad from my chemo treatment.  And he wouldn't be playing till 9 p.m.  That was really late for me after all my body had been through that day.  About that time my cell phone rang, it was my daughter Lauren.  I told her of my plight and she said, "Mom, if you go home, months from now you will not remember what you did tonight, but if you go see Roddy, you'll remember it!"  Nuff said!  I put the plan in motion, gathered up a few friends and we clapped and sang while Roddy played.  And...it made me forget about how bad I was feeling.

(You can listen to Roddy play at the links below.  The first one was my recording of him at our party.  The second is from a performance at a Blues Festival.)

Roddy singing for us at the party.

Roddy singing Boogie Woogie Your Red Wagon

Roddy and Me

But back to the party.  Roddy came around 5:30 and helped us get things ready.  We had a grand time talking.  Soon, the others arrived and the party began.  Wonderful food, wine, and fellowship.

Around 12:30, I saw a little orange on my fingertips and knew it wouldn't be long before I turned into a pumpkin, so I went to bed, though the party continued on.  Still had the big concert Sunday night and I couldn't wait.  But first, I had to get some rest.  What a night!

PCQ

Sandy Beaches

Sandy beaches in Cancun

Amazing how music can bring out so many emotions.  I was driving John's truck Sunday to check on some things at the farm and had the radio on listening to beach music.  Delbert McClinton came on singing, Sandy Beaches, and the tears rolled down my cheeks.

It brought back the best of memories.  Several years ago, John found out he had a business meeting he was to attend in Cancun, Mexico.  I didn't know about the trip, but when I came home from work that day, he pushed "play" and Delbert McClinton started singing.

(you can click on the link below to hear the song)

Delbert McClinton singing Sandy Beaches

John grabbed me around the waist and in a semi dance move, began singing along with Delbert, "Now look here honey, got all this money, let's me and you go....down to Mexico........"

Of course, I was thrilled and we had an awesome time.  But today, when I heard the first few bars of the song, my mind flashed back to that day and made me realize how much I still miss him.

Happy times.....

PCQ

My Weekend

Kay, my party-in-a-box friend, had called a few weeks back and invited me to Virginia to visit with her.  There was a concert that Sunday night and we could make it a long Presidents Day weekend.  Sounded good to me!  She and her husband, Bill are always the perfect hosts and I was between treatments, so I agreed to come.

As the date got closer, I realized it would be the first time I had driven that far alone.  Not that I am afraid to venture out by myself, just didn't know if I was physically able to handle it.  Still recovering from the rotary cuff problems and the chemo treatments in general....I just didn't know how it would go.

Got there okay.  Physically, it was not a problem, but emotionally, it was challenging.  This was the first time I had visited them since John and I went there last July.  When we found out about his cancer....he wanted to go somewhere, just get away, and Kay and Bill were his safe haven.

So every turn I took, every landmark I passed, reminded me of that trip.  It was hard, but it was a trip I had to take.

Friday night we had a lovely dinner and just caught up on everything.  So much going on and we talked till it was time for bed. Of course, during the talks, Kay was receiving text messages from Mary, her daughter, and Mary's husband Jake.  They were flying in from NYC and Mary kept us informed of her progress.  "We've made it to the airport." "We're on the plane."  "We're leaving now." Was sweet to follow her via texting.  I was worried about her because it was windy outside.  Wind and planes don't go together real well.  But she made it home that night....though it was a little bumpy.

Kay had a big weekend planned and the drive had me tired, so bedtime came early.

Saturday morning we were up early and getting everything ready for the dinner party she had planned that night.  So much to do and we had to drive into town to pick up Mary.  She had spent the night in Richmond with friends since the flight was late.

Needless to say, everything Kay and I do is an adventure.  We saw this guy by the road working on a sign.  Kay told me he was, Happy, the artist.  Seems he is a local legend and has been around Richmond for a long time.  His dog, a Beagle named God (dog spelled backwards he said), had red rickrack around his neck for a collar, was there with him.

 His van, pictured below, initially got my attention, but after pulling in to take a photo, we saw Happy.

His van was very interesting and had several thoughtful phrases.  

The one above says, 

"Bless you for being in my life, just by reading this, you have joined us together -

 and bless the Magic Marker - 

AND bless the guy that invented the Alphabet. 

AND bless all the teachers that taught us to read.  

AMEN"

It was only 3 p.m. on Saturday afternoon and we had already had an exciting day.  Next, home to get ready for the dinner party.  What a night it was to be!

PCQ

Wing Scan

Had the MRI on my left wing/shoulder this morning at 8:15.  What was I thinking when I made an appointment that early?  Obviously, not thinking at all, especially after the weekend I had.  Will post on that soon.

But no problems with this MRI.  Didn't realize how simple MRI scans are if you don't have to:
not eat and have only clear liquids before,  drink two Super Size cups of yummy "light up" stuff, get an IV put in and have injections, and have two scans...before and after the injections.  Drink, drink, drink, afterwards to flush all the stuff you drank out of your system.

This was a piece of cake.  Just jump in, scan, jump out!  When she told me it was over, I said, "That's it?"  She nodded yes and said, "Regular MRIs are pretty simple."

But still glad it is over.

PCQ

MRI and CT Scan

I had an MRI and CT scan Wednesday.  Had to be there an hour before to drink the contrast dye that lights up cancer cells.  Two big Super Size cups of yummy stuff!  I always worry about drinking all of that and then having to crawl in the "tube" and be still for 45 minutes while it does its magic.

Today was different.  Been having mucho trouble with my left wing and shoulder.... and didn't think about how it would affect the scans.  But did it ever.  First complication, the nurse had trouble getting the IV in my arm and had to put it in my left arm, which is always the easiest to find a vein.  But, that proved to be problematic as I had to put that arm up over my head so dye can be given during the CT scan.  Ooops, my left arm was not happy at all, it really hurts to lift it above my head.  Thankfully, CT scans don't last but a few minutes and are not confining.  Just take a deep breath and slide you through the donut a few times, and it is over.

Not so easy with MRIs.  There is the issue of the tube.  (see my post about claustrophobia and the St. Louis Arch)  Usually, the cloth over my eyes, jazz music playing, works.  I didn't factor in the part about my shoulder and wing not being happy, really, really, not happy.  During past scans, I was able to at least doze off for a few minutes.  Didn't happen today.  I could not get comfortable and of course, you can't move once the scan begins.  The stress of not being comfortable just amplified the fact I was strapped into a tiny tube and couldn't move.  I had to really dig deep to find control and not scream, "Get me out of here."

I made it, but barely!  Did I say I was sweating, too?  Was not a good day for me.

The results will be available at my next chemo treatment on March 1st.  I'll update you then.  And yes, glad you asked, anyone who has tests always worries till you get the results.  If there wasn't a question, we wouldn't be having a test.

PCQ

Update

I had my 15th treatment today on the third regimen of chemo drugs.  Don't remember how many I had on the second group, but it didn't work, so I focus on this one.

My oncologist was back from his visit to India for a family wedding.  I missed him.  We talked about his trip and I told him I had a friend that went to the Woodstock boarding school in India. Just saw that it was listed on CNN as one of the top ten in the world.

"His family must be wealthy," he said.  "Actually, they were missionaries and I think the school has provisions for those that are in mission work.  His father was a foremost authority on leprosy and worked with lepers.  If you Google it, his name comes up," I said.

"My family left India when I was 12 years old.  Going back is very difficult, even to visit.  It is so hard to see all the disparities," he remarked.  We talked about Egypt and other world events, and, as nice as it was to chat....that was not my reason for being there.

I had my list of "ailments" from chemo; skin peeling off my hands and feet, dry mouth....I mean really dry mouth, trouble with nose bleeds, no energy, queasiness, hiccups, fingernails breaking, etc.  I don't do it to complain, that serves no purpose, he has to know how the drugs are affecting me so the dosage can be adjusted if needed.

Gave him the 411 on my shoulder saga.  It is doing better, albeit slowly. After visiting my PCP and an orthopedist, I was diagnosed as having a tendon impingement that in turn has caused my bursa to become inflamed, which in turn has caused my shoulder muscles to go..OUCH and tighten up.  Oh yeah, she gave me a nice little cortisone shot in my shoulder.  Getting old is not for wimps.

I finally broke down and visited my Primary Care Physician week before last.  He had taken X-Rays and gave me prednisone and a muscle relaxer.  It helped some, but I didn't like taking the muscle relaxer, it made me feel lethargic and drowsy.  The prednisone turned me into an eating machine.  I even woke up during the night hungry.  Never done that before, so I was a little anxious when the nurse asked me to "weigh in" today.  Didn't know if "Porky" would have to go the truck scales down the road!  But, to my amazement, I had only gained one pound.  Whew.

Dr. Mahajan will schedule my scans in a few weeks and it was time for a mammogram also.  If the scans show the tumor is being maintained, I will begin a different treatment plan.  We'll take out one of the three chemo drugs and go to every other week again.  Less drugs, but more frequently.  I have been on three week intervals for the last two months.  The drug that will be removed for a short while is the one that makes me so tired and has the most negative side effects.  I must allow time for my body to recover.  It is a delicate balance.

We will do that....that is...if there is no new growth.  If things have changed, it is a whole new ballgame.

Wagon still rolling with a little more bacon.
PCQ

Saying Goodbye to John

Received a wonderful note in the mail from a dear friend.  She had been out of town....actually, she was out of the country, when John died.  Her  words are powerful.

"It really hit hard when I got that early morning email, even though we knew of John's struggles.  When the news came, I had a vision of John.  He was shrugging his shoulders and with a chuckle, and his hands in the air as if to say, 'Gotta Go', and I cried.  Maybe you're familiar with this gesture, I sure saw him do it more than once.


One of the things we do here by the ocean, is get up early before sunrise and watch the fisher people head to their boats, in hopes of catching the big ones that day.  The sun is barely peeping over the horizon when the boats are speeding off just showing silhouettes on an early morning orange background.  As we headed to the shore area to sit and just meditate over the sunrise and John's passing, it was so very emotional.  We waved good bye to John and it really felt like he was passing over us.  And then the thought of this particular sunrise, the first without John Adams on the earth with everyone.  It is still so hard to accept that reality and I can only imagine the pain you feel.


I admire your strength which I believe comes from that inner place in all of us where the higher power reigns waiting to help us get through what ever we may face on this life journey.  And now everyone's journey has changed forever with John's absence.  Your man John really had a presence here and now we realize the blessing that he truly was."

What sweet words, thank you dear friend.

PCQ

NC Pork Council Tribute to John

I knew it would be an emotional day.  Just seeing all of John's friends and colleagues would bring back so many wonderful memories.  Meals shared, trips taken....all part of the fabric of our life together.

But they wanted to remember John and all he did to promote the industry.

After their remarks on John's contributions, this is what I said:

Good Morning.  On behalf of my family and myself,  I would like to thank you for honoring John’s service and dedication.  I can’t imagine how our life would have been without the pork industry, it truly shaped and colored our lives.

John had a passion for pork and was dedicated to NC State and agriculture and never missed an opportunity to share that love with others.  Be it a pig picking, a BBQ judging contest, a committee meeting, or cooking bacon, "pig candy" as he called it, at the beach, pork and pigs were always at the front of the line in our family.  

"Pigs don’t care if it is Christmas, they still have to be fed," he said.  And he made sure that happened and he was good at it.  

As many of you know, John was also very vocal.  You may not have agreed with him, but you knew where he stood on the issues.

Our oldest daughter, Meredith, pig money sent her to NC State, ECU and Johnson and Wales… is now the executive chef of Eurasia restaurant in Mt. Pleasant, SC, right over the bridge from Charleston.  Pork features prominently in her menu.  If you are ever down that way, please stop in, say hello, and enjoy a wonderful meal.

Lauren, our youngest, pig money sent her to NC School of the Arts,  Appalachian State, UNC-CH, and graduate work at Carnegie Mellon University, in Pittsburgh... GO STEELERS! and she is now an assistant professor at Washington University in St. Louis, MO.  She was just recently chosen as one of nine prominent artists to design large glass panels that will be installed during the upcoming  renovation of the St Louis airport.  So, maybe the next time you are passing through St Louis Lambert Field, you will catch a glimpse of her design, fashioned into glass panels that are being crafted by German glass masters in Munich.

When John passed away last fall, several of his friends suggested a scholarship in his name.  They said there is probably another “young John” out there somewhere that may need a little help with their education.  So in collaboration with the North Carolina Cooperative Extension service, the  John Quincy  Adams V Scholarship Fund is now in place.

We still have a way to go before it is fully funded and I need your help.  If you would like to contribute there is information on your table, or you can contact the Pork Council office and they can help also. 

John never asked anyone to do anything he wouldn’t do himself.  He  never borrowed anything that wasn’t in better shape when it was  returned, and he paid forward.  I hope you can find it in your heart  to help us with this scholarship fund, so John can continue….to pay forward!  Thank you.

NC Commissioner of Agriculture, Steve Troxler

NC Farm Bureau President - Larry Wooten - my breakfast companion

It was a wonderful day but very emotional.  John would have been overwhelmed by the kindness.

PCQ