On Becoming 75!

I try to post a new entry every few weeks. There has been no formal schedule. Some posts share important and breakthrough information about prostate cancer treatment. Some posts lament the rising costs of medications, strange and nasty side effects, and the slow progression of clinical trials. Others are more tongue and cheek and personal (as you probably know).

This entry is mostly silliness and celebration. When I was diagnosed with prostate cancer 12 years ago and then found that it was incurable about 10 years ago, I was not at all sure I would reach 75. But, for the most part, I am healthy, active, moderately alert, and ornery. Carol, my wife and best friend, and I travel, laugh, garden, play with chain saws to cut firewood and clear land, and frequently visit friends and family. Life is good (as it should be).

 Although I am not Shakespeare, Longfellow, or even Dr. Seuss, I am waxing poetic on this occasion. Forgive me if I take extreme poetic license with the facts and just about everything else.

           Being Alive at 75!

 I’m pleased I've survived to be 75.

Albeit I'm old and decrepit and barely alive.

So stand up now and give me a cheer,

Please make it loud ‘cause I can’t hear.

I could tell you wild stories about my life,

But I can’t remember, so go ask my wife.

You look happy and cheerful there sipping your drink.

I can’t really see you, but that’s what I think.

Now, dear friends, won’t you give me a hand…

I mean, of course, to help me stand!

But after all is done and all is said,

I’d rather be 75 than flat out dead!

axman

You Can Always Go Home Again...

Especially for the holidays

We just returned from two great and glorious weeks in Hawaii. It was relaxing and refreshing. I noticed that I was far enough away from home for my pains to subside, my stress level to drop, and I even slept better. Coming home was good, too, it always is, but it was cold and all that work that needed to be done was right there...waiting. On the bright side, it's time for the kids and grandkids to come by for dinner and gift giving and a little sherry and egg nog.

In Hawaii we reconnected with some old (really old) friends from 20 or 30 years ago. Most of them, like me, were in various stages of disease and decline but it didn't seem to matter. There were strokes, knee replacements, an abundance of arthritic pains, and even one friend with Stage 4 prostate cancer. He's in chemo and weakened but still has his irreverent, self-deprecating sense of humor and was constantly cracking jokes.

I came home inspired to be as strong as they all seemed. I intend to laugh more, focus less on my aches and pains, and especially to avoid morbid thoughts about my own mortality. Sounds like New Years Resolutions - time will tell.

So, Merry Christmas, Enjoy Life, and have a Healthy New Year

axman

Why are Sick Old Men so Damn Funny?

…at least they THINK they are

Of course I’ve always considered myself wittier than the average geezer (my wife says half-witty) but recently I’ve noticed that most of the old guys I talk to who have prostate cancer are always laughing and joking. They seem to share a set of common characteristics:

• They are very knowledgeable about their condition and know what treatments have been tried, which worked (a little), and what their prognosis is so there are no surprises or illusions
• They are willing and able to discuss prostate cancer intelligently with anybody and don’t get into ‘poor me’ scenarios
• They are mostly cool, calm, and good natured
• And they have an underplayed, wicked, irreverent, dark sense of humor – particularly regarding their incurable condition. Jokes about incontinence and impotence abound (not much else can be done about these conditions at this point). Side effects, such as enlarged breasts, also make for witty, if not politically correct, repartee.

Is this the result of denial or senility? Possibly. Should we all be more serious? Maybe, but I don’t think so. Laughter is good medicine; even when it comes from bad jokes and unpunny puns. And we need all the good medicine we can get.

There will be plenty of time to worry and be serious later. There is NO evidence that being sane and serious lengthens life. So for now, let the pun times roll!

axman