Happy Christmas

I will have to admit that the past week has been a little hectic. A good deal of time was spent on the bench preparing to play for services. There was an extra long choir rehearsal on Wednesday to make up for the one we didn't have last week. ¶ Wednesday was the scheduled MRI at a decent hour of 9 in the AM. Noisy as it is, I survived the procedure. I dashed downtown to practice and attend the 12:15 service at the cathedral and then back to the Cancer Center to meet with the radiation oncologist. ¶ He went through the pictures and showed me another shadow of concern that has appeared, most probably a new lesion. He explained that I would need another MRI to make sure nothing is being missed and then a second Gamma Knife procedure. This will happen in the middle of January.

¶ It's quite a juggling act to schedule everything. He wants to avoid the weeks I have chemo. The MRI has to be scheduled right before the procedure and the radiation team has to be scheduled. ¶ The doctor says I do not appear to have a problem with claustrophobia. Since that is the case they can avoid using the frame which is bolted to the head for the Knife procedure. Instead, they can mold a mask which will hold one's head in place. It looks a little like a Phantom of the Opera mask but full face. This contraption is then fastened to the machine so one cannot move one's head. That molding session is another thing that needs to be scheduled. And so it goes. ¶ Thursday I received a text from the dean of the cathedral saying that he had tested positive for COVID and would have to quarantine. He wanted me to substitute for him. My reply was "sorry, I have to play the organ for those services." One of the "extra" priests is out of town. Another just had a knee replaced. A third was already scheduled for services out of town. He wondered if I could possibly (1) play the organ, (2) preach, and (3) celebrate the Eucharist. My reply, "I don't think so." Things finally worked out and the services were covered but it was a tense time. ¶ I played for two services last night and attended a third this morning. Tomorrow I play for the Sunday service. I wonder if this is what retirement is like for others. I pretty much do not have time on my hands.

¶ Monday is the beginning of another chemo week. It seems that the two weeks chemo free become shorter and shorter. This is also the final week of the year. It seems that I've only recently begun writing 2021 as the date, and now I have to adjust again. It is a verity that time flies. ¶ It has been a good year. I've avoided any other illnesses than the one being constantly treated. I'm blessed that only one "shadow" has shown up on my surrent MRI. I know the radiation doctors will take care of that in short order. ¶ There have been a plethora of ups and downs during 2021. I've lost a long time dear friend to COVID. Another called this week and said he had been placed in home hospice care. I buried another friend of 61 years who died on Easter. The country could be headed in a more humane direction. My new year's wish is that we all could be more kind to each other rather than looking for things that could/would divide us. ¶ The readers of this blog are blessings to me. Thank you. May you continue to have 12 days of a happy and blessed Christmastide.