7.27.2008 Update

Dear Family,

For the most part, it’s been a good week this week.  I was actually able to work an entire five-day week.  Remarkable.  For some reason though, unlike the past,  I have been unable to totally shake the nausea and intestinal issues, but I am functioning, nonetheless.

Monday I met with Dr. Robertson.  Although my blood levels were still down somewhat, he was very satisfied and told me that “you’re right where I want you to be.”  I guess that’s a good thing.  There was another young up-and-coming doctor with him during my visit.  Dr. Robertson remarked to the young doctor that, “Mr. Riggins here, for reasons I can’t explain, appears to have the bone marrow of a teenager.”  He then went on to talk medical jibberish with the other doctor about how my bone marrow has, remarkably, shown no signs of cancer.  From what I understand, with my diagnosis, this is rare.  That’s good.

I talked with Mama earlier this week.  Her kitchen seems to be coming along, although at a slow pace.  She is still dealing with the insurance company about her stolen lumber claim.  It’s sad that you can’t leave the house without no-good bums stealing your stuff.  Perry, it makes me more and more want to get a Fila Brasileiro to patrol the farm while Mama is at work.  I suspect that would put a stop to quite a bit of things going missing, and heaven forbid anyone trying to come into the house uninvited while Mama is there.  Moving on to more romantic issues, I hear that Dr. Stephens is still trying to win Mama’s attention but, as always, he continues to strike out.  Adam …..  perhaps you should teach Dr. Stephens how to do a back flip on the trampoline.  He’s desperate, and I hear backflips are a woman-getting move.  It just might work.

Yesterday I had a craving for homemade vegetable soup, so I made some.  It started out as a small pot of soup, but ended up quite a large pot of soup.  It’s one of those situations were you put just the right amount of tomatoes, then add vegetables and left-over stuff from the refrigerator, then find out you need more tomatoes, then realize you need other stuff (it’s a balance thing), and the cycle gets repeated until you have this HUGE pot of soup.  Well, it was actually very good and satisfied my craving.  There’s nothing like hot vegetable/beef soup and cheese-toast.  In fact, I had hot vegetable soup for breakfast this morning and for after-church-dinner, too.  I suspect that I may have a bowl for supper as well.  When I eat good soup, I always think of Jeffrey because I remember how he used to love Mama’s homemade soup.  Jeffrey was always so expressive when he ate something that he really enjoyed.  Jeffrey, I have plenty of soup on the stove if you want to come over.

Today I let Mollie drive home from church.  She’s doing better with her driving. However, I continue to be traumatized.  She asked me how she did and I didn’t want to be too critical.  However, I thought back to the time when I was a deputy and had to chase a black fellow through the woods.  I finally caught him, at which time he exclaimed, “Oooooooh Law ….. my hot be bus.”   {TRANSLATION:   Oh Lord ….. my heart is almost ready to burst.)   Well, today, my “hot be bus.”  Speaking of Mollie, she reports to Valdosta State University on the 13th of August.  Trust me, that will be a tough day.  Robin is going to cry cry cry.  I just may have to move to campsite #59 for a couple of weeks until the squallin’ subsides.  Perry and David, you’ll know where to find me.

Robin has a colonoscopy scheduled for Wednesday morning at 7:00 AM.  I was trying to think of a joke to play on her that day, but I can’t think of anything right now.  Just as well.  I need to be on my best behavior since I have chemo tomorrow (Monday), Tuesday, and Wednesday.  My body has already started acting like a dog or cat that knows it’s going to the vet.  I have this distinct desire to run away, or hide behind the couch.  Tomorrow is six hours of infusion at Summit Cancer Care, followed by 48 continuous hours of adriamyacin feed at home via a port-a-cath.  YUCK!  I am getting ill just thinking about it.  The good thing is that this is #5 …… only one more round to go after this.  The next two weeks will be tough, so don’t forget me.  Please.

Well, that’s all for now.  Thanks ya’ll for being there for me.

I love all of you.

Mitch