Week One of 2022

I do not understand how chemo week takes such a long time to pass and the chemo-less weeks fly by. It seems like just yesterday that I was writing about the new year and now it’s a week old, already. ¶ Last Sunday in church was a new experience. The Cathedral congregation is used to having what I refer to as “open mic” time. The celebrant asks if there are any other announcements and people pop up to make their entreaties, announcements, greetings, etc. I’m used to this from the Sudanese congregation. Anyone who has anything to say is allowed the time to speak at length or briefly. In one sense the liturgy is a community meeting. The liturgy focuses on the reason we are there. Excessive talking on the part of the congregation does interrupt the flow of things, and at times lengthens the time in church. ¶ Back to last Sunday. We had a substitute celebrant because of the dean’s recovery from COVID. At the “open mic” time a gentleman who is not a regular attendee at the 10:00 service took the opportunity to go on about his own particular peeves, wishes, whatever else. I couldn’t hear most of it because he was not on a mic. It took quite a while before he simmered down and we could get on with things. He obviously was disturbed and this disturbed the congregation as well. One of the deacons is a trained mental health counselor and was able to deal with the situation.

¶ Tomorrow I will not be at the console but at the altar and in the pulpit instead. The dean is still suffering the after effects of COVID. With a little more rest he will be able to return. It is frightening because he has had three shots of vaccine. It’s the Omicron variant that got him. ¶ Our county is still leading the numbers in the state for reported infections. I’ve noticed a few more people wearing masks in the shops. All staff and volunteers are required to mask at the Pavilion. We are required to wear masks in church, by the church. It is a good thing, especially when this variant spreads so easily. There are still vast numbers who seem to think they are immune. ¶ The highlight of the week was January 6. I’m speaking of the highlight of the church week. January sixth is the feast of the Epiphany, the day when the arrival of the mysterious visitors from the east appeared to the young Jesus. The wise men took their place at the manger in the crèche.

¶ January 6, is known for another event, the insurrection at the seat of our government. The event of last year was such a shameful, disgusting and frightening thing. It’s literally beyond belief that many in the congress think it meant nothing. The investigation continues and some of the findings of the committee are cause for even more concern. ¶ Sophia has been very busy with the livestock on the porch. The squirrels have their new feeder. One of the squirrels is quite adept at operat

ing the thing. Another seems to be baffled by it. Just like people, I guess. Some get it, and some don’t! When the birds move in at feeding time it’s quite a sight. I find it interesting that they all seem to be hungry at the same time. Someone in the flocks must be in charge of announcing that it is time to eat. ¶ I’ve felt fine and have enjoyed some leisure time this week. It felt good after the busy-ness of the last two. ¶ Thank you for your prayers, your thoughts, your kindness. Next week is the Gamma Knife procedure. I’ll try to get a picture of “the mask.” MRI will be on Tuesday morning. I’m hoping no more spots have shown up. If so, the team will deal with them.

The New Year Begins

Welcome to 2022. Around this house the year began quietly. I did stay up to welcome the new year. In the midst of viewing a movie it happened and I didn’t even notice. I guess after as many new years as I have welcomed, one more doesn’t make a whole lot of difference! ¶ Nevertheless, we could hope and pray for a number of things in this new year come upon us. It would be lovely if Congress and the Supreme Court could do their business without succumbing to partisan strife and stonewalling. It would be a wondrous thing if our state legislature and governor could decide that the education of children is worth an investment in teachers and schools. It would be amazing if the drivers of automobiles in Sioux Falls would recognize that a red light does not mean drive faster so one can get through the intersection before the cross traffic starts. I don’t mean using the yellow light to cross. Lately, many drivers start through the intersection on the already red light. And, for the health of all of us, if the antivaxers and antimaskers would give up their exercise in futility and think of someone other than themselves, get the shot, wear a mask, and quit being a royal pain in the lower region. One can only hope.

¶ Chemo week has come and gone. TUG the persistent pharmaceutical robot went about her business with aplomb decked in her Christmas decorations. The pharmacy was a little slow this week except for Friday. Friday was a holiday for the Cancer Center staff, but a couple of nurses work so that those of us who need infusions can have them. Bless them. It is a wonderful act of giving that they give up their holiday time with their families. No side effects of the chemo were experienced by this patient this time around, which is usual. ¶ The Gamma Knife procedure has been scheduled for the 13th of January. The grotesque mask will be confected in the morning and I’ll return after it has “dried” for the procedure in the afternoon. The doctor says the procedure should take about 15 minutes. More on this adventure will follow. ¶ The week has been more peaceful than the preceding one. Only one service for which to play tomorrow. I have practiced and still have a few more hours to work out some of the bugs. ¶ Sophia has taken to supervising my practice on the piano. From the look on her face she is not terrifically impressed. I think several of my previous piano teachers were of the same opinion. ¶ Sophia is occupied, other than sleeping, eating and drinking, with the livestock on the

deck. There are several birds who enjoy nibbling on suet. There is also a squirrel who has discovered that he/she can hang upside down from the suet cage and have a snack. This, evidently, causes the birds to assume they can help themselves the peanuts that have been put out for the squirrel. They seem to prefer this menu option over the bird seed in their feeder. ¶ Winter has descended upon us. Currently it is -2º here at noon. Tonight’s low is predicted at -8º. ¶ I’m prepared for short, cloudy, wintry days with a new light panel, a Christmas gift to me. I can bask in the full spectrum light and feel like I’m on an isle in the Caribbean sunning myself on the beach. It takes a bit of imagination. It is nice and certainly helps with my SAD. ¶ Another thank you for the holiday greetings, the prayers and messages of thoughts directed this way. You are appreciated. Thanks for reading. Happy New Year!

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.

Wasn’t It Just?

I thought to myself wasn’t it just September? Then, all of a sudden, Christmas is next week. ¶ One can become even more confused with South Dakota weather patterns. I mean South Dakota weather, for there is no pattern.

¶ Last week we had heavy wet snow. On Wednesday of this week the temperature was in the mid 50s. Tonight the low is predicted to be 10º. And we had the high wind warnings and the truth of the high wind on Wednesday. We did not have the tornados that ripped apart several states in the eastern midwest. ¶ The street plowing in Sioux Falls is erratic, as has been mentioned before. Usually our cul de sac is plowed by the end of the first day of plowing. No so with the heavy, wet lard that fell the previous Friday. Going out to the public worship of the Lord on Sunday morning was a little tricky. Once again I was stuck in the big circle. I managed to free myself and found the main thoroughfares to be clear of snow. Finally, Sunday night, the maintainers roared into the cul de sac. ¶ The citizens of the city had complained for years about the enormous windrow of snow that the plows left across the driveway accesses in the residential areas. One of our city councilors waged a battle for snow gates, and she won! Snow gates are a device that is lowered when the plow passes a driveway to lessen the amount of the white stuff that is left behind. I watched as the plows went by my driveway and the operators never lowered the gates so I received the full benefit of what they were moving around. ¶ I contacted my snow person to come back and clear it and the mailbox which was inundated as well. Even they had a really tough time clearing the driveway. Looking at the city website I found the page where one can complain about the lack of snow gate use, so I did. I received a message later in the week that the situation had been resolved. What? They may have read the complaint and called that a resolution of the issue. Or it may be an automatic reply. I guess I can take great comfort in the fact that my situation is resolved. Will the operators take extra special care when next plowing Manor Circle thinking that I will surely be watching their behavior? Stay tuned… ¶ Any free time this week has been spent on the bench preparing for the Christmas services. There is no lack of music for the season. The difficult part is choosing the numbers to be played and then learning them. Even when one reruns a number, having not played it for twelve months requires some brushing up.

¶ I have an MRI on Wednesday morning. I’ve written before concerning the anxiety I have over the results of that noisy procedure. I don’t seem to notice any particular indications that the cancer may be recurring in my cranium. I didn’t realize it the first time around which only increases the apprehension. I’ll get the results Wednesday afternoon so all will be well after that. ¶ Sophia has taken advantage of some rather dark days to increase her nap time. Cats are notorious sleepers and she is one of the prime examples. She has certain vocations she has determined for herself. Watching the birds and the squirrels on the deck is one. The census of the rabbits in the front garden is another concern. The squirrels and birds in the trees seen from the bedroom window pretty well completes her duties for the day. This is followed by a nap. ¶ Goodies for the season have arrived at the door, for which I am very grateful. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers. What you and I can do for others is very much appreciated at this special time. Thanks for reading.

Winter Has Arrived

It was inevitable. It was a few days early. Definitely, winter has arrived. The prediction for heavy snow yesterday was exactly that, a prediction. ¶ We all know that the weather prognosticators have been in error previously. Those of us who have been around for multiple circumnavigations of the sun are well acquainted with some of their miscalls. There have been many panic trips to the supermarket to purchase the necessary items for being snow bound. The purchases invariably include milk, bread, and toilet tissue. These items are purchased even by those who don’t eat bread or drink milk. They are just standard blizzard items.

¶ The prediction was for heavy snow on Friday. When I looked at the “CloseLine” on Thursday evening all the schools in the vicinity had been cancelled for Friday. Administrators, being aware of erring on the side of caution, had assumed the forecast would come to pass. It did. We received about ten inches of the white stuff. It snowed beautifully all day. Once in a while there was a breeze but nothing like a blizzard. The snow just fell, and fell, and fell. ¶ Being the first heavy snow of the season, and, in all likelihood, not the last, it is always a challenge being on the streets with others who have totally forgotten how to drive in such weather. I had to go for my final chemo infusion of the week. The cancer center is all downhill from my house. This is good because driving in the wet, heavy stuff was akin to driving in Crisco, or lard, or a similar substance. I made the journey to the Center with a minimum of white-knuckle experiences. ¶ Throughout the time at the Center the snow continued to fall. At the conclusion of the infusion and my expensive shot, it took many minutes to clear off the car. I always do a thorough job of that because I don’t want all that snow melting in the garage. I also do not want the snow from the hood blowing over the windshield. Nor do I wish the snow from the roof to blow over the car behind me. I wish more drivers would be so kind. ¶ Returning home was a different story. Since the Center is all downhill guess what the trip home is. That’s correct. It’s all uphill. The city varies in its haste to plow and deposit grit on the streets. They hadn’t been around any of the main thoroughfares on which I needed to travel. My current auto is not good in snow. My previous front wheel drive sedan was excellent. This one not so much. I’m smart enough to know not to try the hill which is my usual route. I made it to the cul de sac without incident where I promptly got stuck on the totally flat street! As I said it was like driving in lard. ¶ I finally made it into the garage. The secret solution was turning off the traction control thing. I remembered reading someplace that the traction control was not always helpful, particularly when neither wheel has any traction. Home safe and sound, finally!

¶ Today I went nowhere. I did rake the roof. It was a beautiful, sunny day and the snow sparkled in the sun. As long as I could stay home, it was lovely. ¶ The infusions during the non-snowy part of the week went well. The pharmacy was prompt. My doctor’s appointment was normal. I have a CT scan scheduled for the middle of January. ¶ A friend and I attended a the boys’ choir concert last week. The choir was very small. They sang well. The piano was too loud. Someone forgot to check out the acoustics before the performance. It would have been an easy thing to fix since the piano was electronic. ¶ When I was working with the boys’ choir it amazed me, as it did last week, that young people of that age can exhibit such discipline. Children can rise to the occasion. If you expect much from them they will produce. Yes, there are always exceptions. It was a source of amazement to me that some of the most disruptive boys could be the most disciplined during a performance. The choir brought back fond memories of the days of yore when we would be preparing for the Christmas Tea. ¶ Thanks for reading, for your thoughts and prayers, your messages, and all that you do for others.

’Tis the Season

Everyday there is a new pile of “asking” mail in the box. I can’t recall having received so many requests for year end gifts in past years. I think it may be more noticeable because there are multiple mailings from the same foundations, organizations, charities, etc. ¶ Monthly gifts go to those groups of most concern to me. I trust others will help fund the other worthwhile organizations. Most of them do a good job or provide a helpful ministry. Those charities who send gifts to me do not receive in return. I know it’s a ploy to generate more funds by the guilty conscience trick. One is supposed to think “this organization was kind enough to send me this gift, I’d better send them something in return.” ¶ Every day the news brings more dismay. Lately it is the teenager who killed some of his classmates with a gun purchased for him by his parents. This is unbelievable. The little town of Oxford, MI, is the post office address of the monastery where I was a novice. The monastery is in the country so the connection is tenuous, but the name, Oxford, brings back memories. Having been in the town many times, it would seem to me to be the least dangerous place on earth. May God have mercy on the souls of those who were murdered. May justice be swift and appropriate for the assassin and his parents. ¶ In this season of supposed good will, a friend received a letter from she who is governor of this state. There is not much “good will” in that letter. It is full of accusations and half-truths, and ends, of course, with a pleas for funds for her campaign chest. She claims to be a fiscal conservative. She has recently redecorated the governor’s mansion in the amount of + $60,000. She also felt the need to add a sauna which price was not figured in the preceding amount. The perennial question is “Do actions speak more loudly than words?”

¶ We’ve had a lovely, warm week. Today is gray and a bit nippy. There’s not much of a breeze, but the slightest whisper cuts right through when the temperature hovers just above freezing. ¶ My health has been very good this week. Aside from some slight swelling in my lower left leg there have been no problems. I’ve experienced this before and the doctor ordered an ultrasound. There is no problem showing in that test. I’ll bring it up again when I see the oncologist on Monday, the first day of another week of chemotherapy. There will also be blood work which usually doesn’t change from one test to another. The usual components affected by the chemo will be low but not low enough to cause the medics any concern. I do get a shot to boost my white cell count at the end of the week of chemo. ¶ When the discussion turns to the price of prescription drugs and medical care the following is offered. That single shot is billed at +$11,000.00. ¶ The errant iPad with the perpetual 6 AM alarm returned to the store on Thursday. After a through cleaning and reinstall I do not have a perpetual 6 AM alarm any more. For this I am grateful. ¶ I’m off to hear a boys’ choir this evening at the Cathedral of St. Joseph. The superb acoustic there will really be an advantage to the choir. I’ve not heard this Minnesota group before. I’m looking forward to it. ¶ Sophia and I play a game every morning following my emergence from the shower. She evidently looks forward to it because she regularly shows up for the fun. If I become involved in something before doing the morning clean up, she waits patiently for me. Well, as patiently as a cat waits for anything. She exudes the attitude of “are you ever going to take that shower so we can play, or not!”

¶ She also found it necessary to take refuge from “Roomba” the robot vacuum cleaner. She exhibits a distinct lack of trust in the machine. ¶ Thanks for reading, for thoughts and prayers, and for helping others. Bless you.

Happy New Year!

Not to jump the gun, but this evening begins the season of Advent which begins a new Church Year. ¶ The preparations have been completed for the most part. The greens have been strung outside and the wreath hung. I call them Advent wreaths and greens. Others may think they are ready for Christmas. That’s fine. I will not change their minds. I’m ready for Advent, however.

¶ The empty stable is on the living room mantel. The Advent candles are in place. I haven’t found the animals whose habitat is the stable. They will appear at some point in time. My feeling is they are at the bottom of the Christmas stuff box. ¶ The planting of the bulbs is complete thanks to my gardening friend. I look forward to seeing what they produce come spring. Firstly, we must endure winter. We will. We always do. It always seems like our longest season. ¶ The earth needs to rest. The winter season gives us an opportunity to rest as well. Throughout the pandemic it seems as if we had enough home-time, and rest-time. We could not go any place because most places were closed. Instead of wasting our time going to stores to look for what we thought we needed, we shopped on-line. ¶ Things seem a bit more normal this year. Yesterday was Black Friday following closely upon Thanksgiving. I was out and about yesterday and I was quite amazed that the traffic was pretty much like normal. I didn’t check out any of the parking lots or stores.

¶ My single errand was to MacPros. Having thoroughly smashed my iPad by dropping it on a very hard floor, I received a new one, courtesy of Apple Care+. It works just fine except for the alarm which sounds forth at 5 AM every morning. The purpose of the visit was to see if something could be done about the alarm. After some unintelligible explanation of why things are the way they are I was sent on my way assured that the 5 AM alarm was a thing of the past. Now the alarm goes off at 6 AM. I guess that’s an improvement.

¶ Following Sophia’s horticultural attempt last week. The plant has found a new home in a new pot which she will have some trouble knocking to the floor, I hope. The pot weighs in at something like ten pounds so any displacement will have to be intentional. ¶ The week has literally flown by. Having a holiday in the midst of the week seems to shake things up a bit. I had difficulty figuring out Friday was really Friday. I nearly forgot to go to my volunteer job at the Pavilion of Arts and Science. ¶ I have felt really well all week for which I am grateful. The exercise program has been a little sketchy mostly due to weather. There have been a few warm days and some cold ones made even more so by the South Dakota “breeze.” ¶ Thank you for reading, for thinking of me, for praying for me, for keeping in touch. All those things keep me on a steady path to healing, whatever healing may bring.