For Sale!

One of the most difficult things I have had to do, is sell or dispose of things that are strong reminders of John.  On one hand it is easy, and on the other, very emotional.

John had an old brown Toyota farm truck that just wouldn't quit, it kept going and going.  And, with several employees driving it on a pig farm seven days a week, it stayed dirty and smelled.  Especially in the summer, if you get my drift....no pun intended.

Before John died, it was one of the first things I looked for when coming home.  Seeing this truck, and another he had, let me know he was home and finished for the day.

It was on its last legs, but, it still ran.  After John passed away, it ended up being parked in the back yard and every time I walked by the back door, or came up the driveway, and saw it, I was reminded that John wasn't home.

It was time for it to go, but where do I start?  When I trained new employees at work, I always imparted certain mantras, and "Use your resources", was one of them.  I had checked Blue Book for the truck value.  Not good.  Looked like salvage would get me $200 and then I had to pay to have it picked up.  Not good.  So, I used my resources and called our mechanic, Eugene at the Car Shop....though I call him Eugenius, cause he is so smart.

"Put it on Craigslist, say it is for parts and ask $500 firm!" he said.  So I did.  Below is the ad.

Selling a 1986 Toyota 5 speed long bed Xtra cab truck. It runs but I have Junked it with NCDMV because it will not pass inspection, can be used for parts. So selling AS IS!!! Will not guarantee it will run long. Was used as a farm truck and cannot be on the road with NCDMV junk status. Dirty, seat is damaged from getting in and out with ViseGrips in pocket, window doesn't roll up all the way, tailgate has bungee cord holding it shut, rusty, no radio, heat or AC, windshield wipers or brake lights, speedometer and gas gauge do not work, clutch slipping, so it is hard to change gears. Has been a faithful friend but it is time to go. $500 firm! Don't even ask!  As I said...JUNK...for parts!  $500 Firm!  Did I say it is dirty???  and I am not going to waste any time cleaning it up.  Send email with phone # and I will contact you ASAP.


Immediately I received several emails with dumb questions like, "How many MPG?"  Answer:  "Don't know, speedometer and gas gauge do not work, just have to guess when you need to buy gas."  Another one, "What's wrong with it?"  Answer: "Everything, selling for parts."  Then finally, a sensible email, "Do you still have the Toyota truck?  Can I come pick it up today?  Will pay cash."  Now that's my kind of email.


We were to meet around 2 p.m. here at my house, so I called Harold, my 90 year old body guard to come over around 1:30 to help me get some of the stuff out of the truck and so I would not be alone when the buyer arrived.


My buyer, Jeff, soon arrived with his rollback.  He checked the truck to make sure there was a motor, paid me, and loaded the truck.

After he finished, I asked, "What are you going to do with it?"  "We cut them in half and ship them overseas," he said.

"Ummmm... I don't want to turn on CNN one night and see an old brown Toyota truck with a white tailgate in some foreign country full of young militants with guns!" I said.  "Well, I can't guarantee what will happen to it after it is sold," he replied.  Nuff said.

Before he left, he asked if he could walk over to see my bottle tree.  Gave him the 411 on the history of Southern bottle trees.  He thought his wife would like to have one, so I told him how easy they are to create.  Of course, he was very impressed with my Las Vegas lights that come on at night fall.

Before saying goodbye, he asked, "Do you want me to help you get those tools and concrete moved?" Those were all farm items that had been in the truck I was selling.  "Oh, yes, please," I said, knowing Harold and I shouldn't do it.  Him being a young buck, he jumped right on it.  He moved the bag of concrete, box of tools and even put all my trash in the back of the other truck....plus a large, heavy, urn that I was getting ready to repot.  Whew....what a sweetheart.  Soon he was off and I waved goodbye to a truck full of memories....but it was time.

After he left, I told Harold I was sure glad we didn't have any trouble with him, cause I think he would have won.

PCQ

Troubles

Been having a lot of problems with my shoulder.  After my chemo treatment, it started hurting again.  And when I say 'hurting', I mean hurting....really bad.  Pain meds helped some, but didn't completely stop the pain.  Of course, they make me sleepy and feel bad, but there was no other choice.

When I went in for my chemo pump to be removed, I told the nurses something had to be done.  Just too much pain.  They immediately contacted the doctor and she came in to check me.  Concerned that it may be a blood clot, she requested a CT scan of my shoulder.  The nurses put an IV in my hand so the contrast dye could be injected during the scan.  I sat and waited....and waited....and waited.  Apparently, the insurance was slow in approving the test.

The doctor came in after about 2 hours to check on me.  "Have you already been, or are you still waiting?" she said.  "Still waiting," I replied.  She immediately went into the nurses office and I could tell she wasn't happy by the look on her face and that of the nurses.  In a moment, she breezed by and within five minutes, I was being taken down for the CT scan.

CT scans are pretty easy, usually fast, run you through the giant donut tube, inject the contrast dye and run you through again, and it is over.  That's the way it is supposed to be.  But it was not the way it went this time.  When the nurse hooked me up to inject the contrast dye into my IV, she was having problems.  The flow was not good in the IV but she thought maybe the pressure from the machine would open it up.  Well, it opened up, but not the IV!  The vein blew out and I had instant pain.  She stopped the scan and came in to check on me.  "Oh, I am so sorry," she said.  By then my arm was swelling and already looked like someone had shoved an orange under my skin.  She grabbed several ice packs and wrapped them around my arm.

After the initial pain subsided, we still had to finish the scan, so she had to start another IV.  Now, she moved to my left arm.  Normally, that would be fine, but my left wing and the pain I was having....was why I was there.  I have trouble raising my arm and the test requires the arm be held up over my head.  So, I sucked up and did the best I could. Thankfully, the test only lasts a short time.  It was over...whew...I was shaking.  She unhooked my IV and I sat up.  My arm with the blowout was really looking nasty, my hand was now swollen too, but the ice had helped the pain.

She helped me back to the chemo room where I would wait for the scan to be read.  By now it was 4:30 and I hadn't had anything to eat.  That was self imposed but for a reason.  My queasiness and all that goes along with it, had come back and I didn't want to worry about getting sick when I went in.  Who knew it was going to be an all day affair?

Good news though, no blood clot and nothing else showing up!  But, something is causing the pain.  So, blood was taken and sent off to see if there is an infection.  We are ruling out all possible options.   The doctor looked at me and said, "You know, it is probably going to be difficult to keep this port if the pain persists."  I nodded my head, understanding what she was saying.  I had initially been horrified when they told me I may have to have it removed and reinstalled.  But now, with all the pain I have had, I think I could about rip it out myself.  Of course, there is no guarantee that is what is causing the pain.  But it has to be.

I will keep you updated.

PCQ

Update on MRI and CT Scan

Needless to say, I didn't sleep well Monday night, anticipating the next day's appointment with my oncologist.  When you have a major medical test like an MRI or CT scan, you know there is always a chance things won't go the way you hope.  Try as you may, that wiry, little, red devil sits on your shoulder, pokes at you with his pitchfork and makes little comments, like, "This might be the one!", just so you don't forget you will be getting information that could sharply alter your life.

I asked my friend, Kathy, to go with me.  Sometimes it helps to have two sets of ears listening to what the doctor says.  I found that to be very true when John was ill.  After leaving, we would compare what each of us heard.  Most of the time we agreed, but many times, there were subtle differences in what we heard.  And, we would keep a journal.  Amazing how you can forget what was said when you have so much going on in your life.  And with both of us under fire, it got complicated.

Kathy and I were both prepared for whatever would be said.  You have to do that.

Good news....the tumor had not changed.  As Charlie Sheen would say...."WINNING!!"  With that news came a sigh of relief.  This type of cancer is slow growing, which is a good thing and we have it stalled for a bit longer.  Though ultimately, the cancer will win unless something new comes down the drug pipeline.  And a new treatment is what we are hoping for.

But, my body has been on chemo for well over a year now, plus the radiation treatments for a month.... so my oncologist says I need a break.  "Your body has to heal some," he said.  "The chemotherapy drugs kill good cells along with the bad ones, we have to allow time for the good cells to rejuvenate."

And that is the challenge with chemotherapy.  How much can your body take before it cries, "UNCLE!"

"Okay," I said, "so what is the plan now?"

"Of the three drugs you are on, we will remove the one that is doing the most damage for awhile.  You will stay on the other two.  Just a few years ago, one of the drugs you will continue taking was the only one we used," he said.  The drug he is talking about is the one that makes my blood pressure go up and causes lots of other chemo related problems, so it will be good to hopefully shed myself of those maladies for a bit. But, I don't want to give the cancer cells a break either.  Here in lies the dilemma.

My blood count numbers were good, too. Thanks to a shot I now get after each treatment....a $4695 for each shot I might add.  One tiny injection that causes my bone marrow to spit out more white blood cells and they are the ones impacted by my chemo drugs.  White blood cells fight infection.  (John's treatment killed his red blood cells and plasma.)  You learn all these things as you walk along this path.  But I am very thankful for the drug.  My white blood cell count (WBC)  had gotten very low.  Still not sure how much was worry about John and how much was from the treatment.  I'll never know, but the constant urinary tract infections and other problems I was having have certainly been better.

Here's a photo of my fingernails.  You can see the difference in the color about half way down.  That's how much they have grown since John died.  And yes, I think it was stress.  My hair fell out.  It has stopped.  Constant infections, weight loss, they have stopped.  Do I still have problems....yes, but looks like being bald and boney won't be on the list, not just yet anyway.

So, we begin a new regime.  Two of the same drugs, but now I will go back to being treated every two weeks. I had been on a three week treatment interval for the past three months.  Less time between treatments, but hopefully, less side effects also.

Wing problems!  Been having so much pain with my left shoulder.  Went to the ortho dr and had X-Rays and MRI of the shoulder.  Nothing showing up as a major problem and thankfully, no tumor growth there.  That was a concern.

To be continued...
PCQ

Sunday Night

Umphrey's McGee 

(Joel is on the far right on keyboards)

Took us all awhile to get going Sunday morning after Saturday night's dinner party.  But, we did finally get back in gear.  It was another beautiful day, lots of fun and, of course, a nap, just so we would be ready for the long night.  (Please tell me why concerts start so late?)

Anyway, dinner at The Hardshell in Richmond's Shockoe District was first.  But did I tell you it was with some of the band?  Our concert was Umphrey's McGee, a progressive rock jam band.  I know, I know, I don't look like the progressive rock jam band type, but....this band was different.  Dinner was great and the conversation wonderful.  But soon, we were off to the concert.

A little history, in 2009, Mary, Kay's daughter, got married.  John and I attended the wedding and had a wonderful time.  I had so much fun Saturday night at the party, my hand was bruised the next morning from playing a tamborine.  So, at breakfast that Sunday, I was seated with a handsome young man named Joel.  Didn't know him, other than seeing him at the wedding.  But we chatted and he told me I had "rock and roll bruises".  I liked that.  A few days later, talking with Kay, I found out he was the keyboard player with a big rock band...Umphrey's McGee.  Joel was dating, and later married, Kay's next door neighbor.

After that, I followed the band, and of course, Kay would tell me when they were playing in the area.  And when they were coming this time, she asked if I wanted to go.  I really felt a connection to the band.  They had autographed CDs and hats for John for his birthday last August.  What a kind thing to do and John and I really appreciated it.

John with his hat the band sent him for his birthday last year.

Anyway, back to the concert.  The concert was being held at the historic National Theatre in downtown Richmond.  It was an old movie theatre that has been redone.  A majestic place with an intimate feel, that allowed about 1500 people to rock the night away.  We were treated like royalty!  Had a special pass to get in and a special place to sit.  But first, we were taken to the second floor where there was  room to wait and talk before the concert.  I was in awe of the beauty of the theatre and the anticipation of a rock concert!  Met so many wonderful people and saw a lot of "interesting" people too.

During the band's break, Joel allowed us to go back to their dressing room and personally showed me around.  I can't tell you how much that meant to me.  He is a wonderful and very kind young man.  And so were all the others too.  Had a long talk with the drummer, Kris.  He was spectacular and I couldn't imagine playing drums as he does for a whole concert.  Told him how much I enjoyed just watching him.  He was so smooth....and "in the pocket".   I know this sounds strange, but I did feel of his arms.  He had the softest skin! 

But soon, it was time to leave and get back to our seats for the final set.  They did play the Beatles, Band on the Run, and I think they did it as well as the Beatles.  And the crowd went wild.

It was an awesome night and I will remember it forever.  Thanks to all that made this a wonderful night for an old woman.

Rock on...

PCQ