Funny How Things Work

I must take a trip back to last Saturday and a conversation that I had with Ethan. For all you gentlemen out there that may be able to help me a little with anything I may have missed, this is your opportunity to speak.

Over that past month I’ve had many opportunities to reflect on life and all the amazing questions that it has in store. I’ve tried to anticipate what my kids will want to know and I have started to have those conversations without upsetting them or giving any doubt that I will not be around in person when the question arises. It’s not been an easy task, but through prayer and the fact that Nicola and I have really raised “rock-solid” kids, we have been blessed.

For example… last Saturday, Ethan and I were sitting outside having coffee, milk, and toast by the fire. Ethan said to me, completely unprompted, “Dad how do you get a girl to marry you?” I almost fell out of my chair. This could only be the work of God answering my prayers because this was one of the questions that I thought I would have to answer for him one day. I was even contemplating drafting a small reference book on the subject for him. I figured it would be a compilation of what I have learned about the subject over the last 41 years and it would be a relatively light read. I still don’t know that much!

Anyway, my answer was this: 1) find someone that takes your breath away the first time you see her…you’ll know, 2) you have to be able to make her laugh, 3) make sure you have common interests (E says “what’s common interests”); well things like you want a safe and comfortable home, your Mom wanted to stay at home and raise the kids, good solid jobs, feel safe, and just be able to enjoy a long and happy life together, 4) you will tell her you love her everyday (sometimes more depending on how much you’ve screwed up, 5) always be willing to admit your stupidity, the golden rule here is they are much smarter than us and the sooner you realize this point, the better you are…just ask your Pop (I think I contemplated moving this up to #1) and lastly, 6) make sure it is someone that you would be too scared to ever be apart from for the rest of your life. Of course, next he wanted to know if you’d have to kiss her. I told him that when you find this person that’s all you’re going to want to do. Of course he said “Yuck!”

Later, we were all in the car and this conversation came up in front of Nicola and she asked Ethan what he learned. Surprisingly enough, he covered almost all the points and I beamed. I have great kids!

I have lots of calls that I would like to return in the next few days and I apologize for being a little out of touch with not only the blog but my day to day communications. Radiation has been a lot more draining than I thought, but I am strong and have the best support crew around. Nicola hit the nail on the head with her post yesterday and I think lobbed up a ball for a really fancy Hollywood ball gown party when we have this thing licked! I am constantly encouraged by the wonderful responses to this site and it has been motivational and healing. I appreciate, and take to heart, every one of your responses.

I can’t wait to tell you about the NeuroCircle meeting last night, October 24th 2008. It was our 5 year celebration dinner and I’m saving this information for another post. We have many people living with this disease and I’m not talking surviving, I’m talking living!

Keep praying, have faith, and we'll beat this thing together, David