Life (ours) Doesn’t have to Slow Down Unless We want it to

…it’s (almost) always a choice

We’ve been here in the vast Arizona desert for more than three weeks now. That’s good. We’ve become tan, rested, and done an amazing amount of necessary work. We’ve been busy 12 hours a day (including some time to drink wine, of course) but it seems mostly like fun.

We have chosen to stay busy in our physically and mentally declining years (our kids and grandkids would probably say something even stronger about the decline part). There will probably come a time when we have no choice but to slow down but we’ll put that on the back burner as long as possible.

This week we had visitors in the desert – Tom (co-author) and his family were here five days so we could work on the new book – but mostly we hiked and jeeped all over the desert and a good time was had by all. His kids loved the desert and particularly bumping around the dirt roads and trails in jeeps. Jeeping through the desert in the dark (with the headlights on, of course) was the most exciting.

Oh yeah, Tom and I signed a publishing contract and now have to deliver a completed manuscript by July 1st. That seems like a long time from now, but… how hard could it be (he innocently asked)?

Carol has been doing bookkeeping and taxes for a friend and now is doing ours and those of a couple of the kids.

And I picked up a couple of grad students – non-traditional, at-a-distance learners. I work with them on courses and research – all by email and websites. It only takes a few hours a week and I enjoy it.

axman

A Secondary Benefit of Having Cancer

OK, there really aren't ANY benefits from cancer , but…

After a couple of years battling prostate cancer I decided to write a book about it. I enjoyed the writing and illustrations/cartoons (Real Men Get Prostate Cancer Too) and I think it was therapeutic – it kept me busy and positive. Of course it would have been nice if it sold a few thousand more copies. Oh well.

Now I’m writing another cancer book (about clinical trials) – with a partner this time. Tom is my oncologist and a well known cancer researcher. There is even a publisher who appears to be interested in it. Go figure!

I’ve been working on it - on and off – for more than a year. But now we’re looking at coming up with a finished manuscript in just a few months.

This is both exciting and a little frightening. There is a lot yet to do and so little time… My first book was self-published so I didn’t actually have to satisfy anybody but me. This time around there’s a co-author and an all-powerful publisher. I won’t have the same control but still all of the same responsibility – to myself, my co-author, and the publisher. Guess I’ll have to learn to live with the stress. Of course, I wouldn't be doing this if I didn't enjoy it.

axman

Getting Away Yet Again

The benefits of variety in life – at least MY life

Being in the same place and doing the same thing (more or less) day after day and week after week is my idea of hell.

Maybe it’s just my bad Karma, a highly regrettable character flaw, or just plain old fashioned wander lust. But when I’m traveling or camping or just doing something new and different and at least a little challenging I feel better. Mentally and physically – my aches and pains diminish (a little anyway) and my attitude improves (a little anyway). Don’t ask my wife to verify this; she’ll say I’m a grouch all the time.

Now we’re in Arizona for a few weeks of fun, rest, and a little work. When it’s over the next little adventure will begin. …and then the next one and the next one and the next one...

I suppose life would be easier if I was content to stay home and bloom where I was planted – but I’m not all that ready to be planted yet!

axman