Mike,

Hang in there. I know that it starts to seem like forever since you began even though it's just the beginning of it all and then you think how can I keep going but if you just relax and do what the doctors say pretty soon the other end is going to come into view. It's a hard thing to go through and the best thing that I can say is that you can see we're here rooting for you and some of us have been through pretty much the exact same thing. Keep in mind however things work out for any of us as Proverbs says we all have before us a bright, shining road that ends in death. So, there's nothing to get hung about, and nothing we can do that can't be done. Wow, Lennon said a lot of great stuff. But the best thought is from BB King and Eric Clapton - Don't you know we're riding with the King? That's not Elvis, or BB King either. We know who the King is.


Here are some song suggestions:

Ridin' With The King, BB King and Eric Clapton

Fleetwood Mac, Don't Stop

Beatles, Penny Lane

Surfaris, Wipeout

_________________
"Now, bring me that horizon."
-Capt. Jack Sparrow

BB King and Eric Clapton - Riding With The King

I dreamed I had a good job and I got well paid.
I blew it all at the penny arcade.
A hundred dollars on a kewpie doll.
No pretty chick is gonna make me crawl.

Get on a TWA to the promised land.
Every woman, child and man
Gets a Cadillac and a great big diamond ring.
Don't you know you're riding with the king?

He's on a mission of mercy to the new frontier,
He's gonna check us all on out of here.
Up to that mansion on a hill
Where you can get your prescription filled.

Get on a TWA to the promised land.
Everybody clap your hands.
And don't you just love the way that he sings?
Don't you know we're riding with the king?
Riding with the king.
Don't you know we're riding with the king?

A tuxedo and shiny 335.
You can see it in his face, the blue is alive.
Tonight everybody's getting their angel wings.
And don't you know we're riding with the king?

I stepped out of Mississippi when I was ten years old
With a suit cut sharp as a razor and a heart made of gold.
I had a guitar hanging just about waist high
And I'm gonna play this thing until the day I die.

Don't you know we're riding with the king?
Don't you know we're riding with the king?
Riding, you're riding with the king.
You're riding, you're riding with the king.

_________________
"Now, bring me that horizon."
-Capt. Jack Sparrow

Thanks again for the tune suggestions, positive comments and rholloman, continued best wishes to you. Was it cancer?

_________________
Being able to play and enjoy music is a gift that's often taken for granted.

Don't leave home without it!

No. That was the one thing they didn't claim I had - yet.
It's several other "things" which I try to forget - but those doctors keep saying are wrong with me.

I have now limited my doctors visits at the VA to once a year. I told them if they didn't start having something good to say, I was going to just stop coming in entirely.

Anyway, about cancer in particular - We have seen around here a much, much better survival rate in the past few years. It's no where near the death sentence it once was. I don't know if it's better treatment now days, or what. But, out of about 7 people that I can readily think off, that were diagnosed with cancer, all but 1 have survived and either have recovered completely, or are in steady recovery at present. They now appear healthy and say they now feel good and lead a fairly normal life (if there is such a thing as a normal life).

My folks used to say - it's always darkest before the dawn. So when it gets really tough - try to look ahead for better times that are right around the corner.

And above all - Keep a positive mental attitude, especially during this, and NEVER, EVER, GIVE UP.

As you have probably found out, music is very therapeutic for comfort and soothing of the soul. So, even though you may not feel like it at times, if you will continue to use your gift and play whenever you can, it can be very beneficial to your healing process.

I would like to encourage you to not only believe that God can heal you. But also to ask you to ask Him directly for that yourself, if you haven't already done so. And, as I said, I have and will be praying for you too.

Look up - you've got a lot of people in your corner in this fight you're in.

Thank you and I appreciate your post. I think that one of, if not *the* most important thing in fighting any disease is to have trust in your doctors and let them know that by asking questions and following their advice.

_________________
Being able to play and enjoy music is a gift that's often taken for granted.

Don't leave home without it!

I agree that to place trust in your chosen course of action is indeed important.

Just in case it was misunderstood - I didn't mean for it to sound like I was saying for you to quit your doctor and/or the treatment that is working for you. I'm sorry if it was taken that way. That wasn't what I was trying to say.

I was just trying to suggest some additional things that could help with the fight, and that I've seen help in the past. The fight can definitely be won. More so now days than in the past.

My decision about my doctors is my own personal decision. (it's a long story). Normally, I would say the same as you about staying with and trusting your doctors. However, each one of us has to do what he or she thinks is best for them in a given situation.

Best Wishs and God Bless

No worries, be well!

_________________
Being able to play and enjoy music is a gift that's often taken for granted.

Don't leave home without it!

While fighting cancer, you learn to enjoy the good days and just deal with the...um...not so good days.

Today is one of the latter.

I'm really hoping to feel better later and tonight attend a local jam session. It's not a strictly blues jam, but rather anything that most attending would know. I'm thinking most will know a lot of Clapton tunes and maybe some Stones and Beatles.

_________________
Being able to play and enjoy music is a gift that's often taken for granted.

Don't leave home without it!

[quote="Miami Mike"]While fighting cancer, you learn to enjoy the good days and just deal with the...um...not so good days.

Have a great evening Mike.....
Doc

_________________
"Another day in paradise!"

Thanks, Doc and I will.

_________________
Being able to play and enjoy music is a gift that's often taken for granted.

Don't leave home without it!

Hey Mike, how's your day going so far?
Lifes been great over here this week, hope I can share my positive vibes and mojo with ya!

Nothin' but the best to ya, have a great day Mike!

_________________
"#1"Highway 1 Strat - Sunburst
Classic Vibe Tele
Squier Strat -GFS 60s P'ups
Hot Rod Deluxe
Pearl Export Series Drum Kit
Rogue Ukuleles
-----------------------------------------
The only guy on FLF who plays reggae

Mike, hope you're doing well. We're here and rooting for you.

_________________
"Now, bring me that horizon."
-Capt. Jack Sparrow

Thanks again for the well wishes. I'm not doing too bad today and was able to get out to a local jam at a friend's place last night for a couple of hours and it felt good.

This is the end of my second cycle and when I'll probably be feeling the best before it starts all over again next Tuesday. I really don't like what that oxaliplatin can do, but on the other hand, it is helping to eradicate and prevent re-occurence of the cancer.

I'm learning to enjoy and make the most of the good days though and just deal with the bad days until they pass.

_________________
Being able to play and enjoy music is a gift that's often taken for granted.

Don't leave home without it!

I have always lived in places within about a half hour's drive to the ocean and tomorrow my wife and I are planning to spend some time watching the waves crashing on the rocks, pelicans and gulls, warm sea breezes, beauty all around.

Time to relax, breathe in the salt air, and center. I always feel better after a couple of hours soaking it all in. This may not sound very exciting to some, but I'm finding that there are a lot of things that we take for granted and I'm learning to stop and enjoy some of those things during this time.

_________________
Being able to play and enjoy music is a gift that's often taken for granted.

Don't leave home without it!

And draw into your healing soul, the limitless power of the universe while you experience the seashore's magnificence.

Healing prayers to all who need them and big positive vibes from an oulde hippie.