Note: I just discovered, four years later, that this is the same as #20, and it would be a major pain to change all the numbers at this point. So if you are reading these consecutively, you may now skip to #22.
It’s now been two months since the last “What’s Up,” and I hope no one was concerned that I might have taken a turn for the worse during the interval. There was a bumpy period that was mentioned in the last edition (as I was fighting a virus) that wound up lasting several weeks…featuring daily seizures and the constant feeling that I wasn’t too far away from one. Fortunately, it passed and I was soon back to my old non-seizure self just in time to enjoy an amazing 25th anniversary party that my lovely wife Ellen put together, which was attended by many of you. For those of you who weren’t here, it was a truly magical day…even the nearly constant winds that had swept the hillside in back of our house for days miraculously stopped, and we enjoyed the perfect weather God gave us for our celebration.
The Tuesday before our party was the actual date of our anniversary, and we enjoyed a wonderful dinner at Ana Mandara in San Francisco. I had a mild seizure that night, and have not had one since (a period of more than five weeks, which establishes a new personal best in that category). I continue to feel better and stronger every day, and have begun to drive again, which is both good news and bad news, as we only have one car. With Miles rapidly approaching learner’s permit age, we’ve begun looking for a second car for Miles and I to share, which will eventually become his and I will finally get the spiffy little roadster I have always lusted after.
Our wonderful friends Doug and Anne Zesiger (she contributed the exquisite background vocals on my soon-to-be-released CD) made us a wonderful offer while Miles was away at camp and Tyler was in summer school: They agreed to take him for a couple of nights, driving him to school and picking him up so we could get away for a couple of days. After we finished mopping up the tears of gratitude, we arranged a trip to Big Sur, where yours truly drove all the way down. We were able to get a reservation for one night at the Post Ranch Inn (but not two…we couldn’t have afforded it anyway) and were totally enchanted by the place. I had seen an article about it in Architectural Digest and the memory of it stuck with me…sumptuous use of exotic woods in the rooms and exteriors that blended seamlessly with the surroundings. The most expensive rooms faced the ocean and hunkered down into the ridge with sod roofs with native plants growing on top. Our room faced an imposing mountain ridge and had a green granite spa tub in the room, along with a fireplace and a half-round deck. The restaurant, perched over the Pacific and nearly entirely walled in glass, served fabulous food, and the expansive grounds featured hiking trails and a wonderful secluded pool. We hung around for several hours after we checked out, not wanting to leave. Despite the high tariff (I’m too embarrassed to reveal how much it cost to stay there) I felt as though it was worth every penny, and the place where we stayed the following night (at maybe one-third the price) seemed expensive for what it was.
We continued to celebrate our anniversary up through last weekend, as we had dinner with our friends Scott and Elaine at the French Laundry in Napa…world renowned for excellent food and difficulty in making reservations. We had hoped to eat there on our anniversary, but could only reserve the night we got…July 20. Again, it was a transcendent experience where we spent way more than we had any business doing, but hey…one only gets one 25th anniversary. I was compelled to throw caution to the wind as I eagerly sampled exquisitely-presented dishes containing cheese, beef and bacon, along with several rounds of sugar-infused desserts. Oh, and a glass of wine too.
Which leads us up to yesterday, where I met with my neurologist after my semi-monthly MRI. After the typical two-magazine wait, he greeted us with the words “your scan looks good!” Reviewing the scans, it appeared that the tumor was approximately the same size as before (which is not as good as smaller, but lots better than bigger) but appeared to be more diffused in the center, as though it was being dismantled from the inside out. The neurologist seemed to concur with my observation of the tumor appearing less dense, although he explained why sometimes it’s hard to tell exactly what is being displayed. (The effects of the radiation I had last fall are still showing up as a change from MRI to MRI.) I was told to keep doing whatever it is that I’m doing, as it seems to be effective. He seemed genuinely pleased with my progress, which I have to admit, I am also.
So, two good MRIs in a row, five weeks without a seizure…seems like I’m on a pretty good roll here. I guess I should keep doing what I’ve been doing, which includes being appreciative and grateful for every day I am blessed to enjoy, for the love, prayers and support of Ellen, the kids and all of you, and for the lessons this experience is teaching me. It is my sincere hope that, should I regain my life for years to come, that I will be able to help others by sharing what I have learned, thus enriching my own life and bestowing upon it a sense of purpose. It feels good to be where I am now (although the stand-up comedian in me wants to add “it feels good to be anywhere) and I’m looking forward to discovering where my path will lead.
You may be hearing from me less frequently, as my condition seems to be stabilizing and the real news to be had is from the MRIs every two months. But you will hear from me on those occasions as well as others, as I continue to enjoy the miracle that is life.
Peace and love,
Dan
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