It’s another What’s Up With Dan, which can mean only one thing...I’ve just had another one of my semi-annual MRIs. I’m happy to report that my string of great results (meaning no change in the appearance of “abnormal tissue”) has continued, marking more than five years since this amazing journey began. Although the scans have, over that period, become rather routine, my gratitude at my good fortune has been anything but.

Maybe after all this time, it might be understandable to become a little complacent, to occasionally take life for granted, but every time I sense that it might be happening, I find something to remind myself how blessed I am to be on this planet, breathing its gradually warming air, and grateful to have been given this time, this day. Which is not to say I don’t have issues. But whatever issues I may have are offset by the knowledge that I am here to have issues in the first place, and I do my best every day to keep myself on my path, doing Chi Gung, playing music, and going for runs in China Camp. I find fulfillment chanting to the Medicine Buddha for friends and relatives who are suffering from serious health problems, I feel a responsibility to give back whatever I can...when people close to me who are dealing with cancer look to me for support and guidance, I feel grateful to have the opportunity to help.

Business has been really strong lately...the last six months or so are the best we have had in years. Much of the work I’m doing now is web design as the world continues to move from print to the online realm, and we’ve been fortunate enough to have attracted several new clients. (All the better to pay for the huge trees that blew over in the fierce early January storm.) The internet security start-up I have been working with for nearly two years is seemingly close to funding, as there have been a spate of news stories about our government and cyber attacks. Every new story that comes out (and I’ve seen them all, as the team collects them for me to post to our website) increases the possibility that an investor (or the government, or both) will fund us, and I will start receiving a monthly retainer and some large checks for all the work I’ve performed to date. Sometimes you roll the dice and it works, and sometimes you just roll the dice. I’ve already had some success as an entrepreneur, and more would be awesome.

Life seems to be looking up in other areas as well. After a rocky first semester at Cuesta College in San Luis Obispo, Ellen was able to get Miles some help with counseling and a less-intimidating class schedule. His housekeeping habits needed help as well, so I traveled down to help him get his room organized after seven months of deferred maintenance and some complaining from his roommates. We enjoyed a nice weekend together...he suddenly seems more like an adult, and it was really rewarding to be able to relate to him more on that level. I bought him a new razor and work shoes (he works in the meat department at Albertson’s) and he bought me dinner.

Tyler has also rebounded academically at College of Marin, although he is only taking a couple of classes and his job at Best Buy was seasonal, so he has plenty of time to keep up with his work. But the good news is that he doesn’t have to be pestered to do his schoolwork, and he has a class every morning at 9:10, so he can’t sleep in and watch cartoons all morning as had been his custom. Ginger, at the ripe old age of 13 1/2, continues to enjoy her walks, although they have become shorter out of respect for her seniority. The band is starting to be in demand...we just played a great private party and have several gigs in the offing, including an upcoming appearance at the Farmer’s Market in Calistoga.

This life, to which I am lucky to have had some extra years added, continues to be a source of joy and amazement. This June, Ellen’s mother is sending us to Africa for our thirtieth anniversary, which promises to be the experience of a lifetime, particularly for us, who like to photograph, sketch and generally be in nature. I feel grateful to be able to watch my children enter adulthood, and see the paths that they will choose for themselves...hopefully before they are in their thirties. But however long it takes, I am confident I will be here to honor their choices, and tell them what I would do instead. And that’s a blessing.

Peace and love,

Dan