September 15, 2006
- Day 3 - Week 24 - Hello Again from Peter and What
to do Now?
I guess it is fitting that the brilliance of Wayne
Glass and his insightful commentary should be
followed by a “you won’t believe what happened to us
story.” Three weeks of family on Cape Cod is not
always the best antidote for whatever ails you, but
we had fun boating, playing on the tidal flats of
Cape Cod bay, fishing and eating large quantities of
seafood. Visits from the kids and grandkids, cousins
and friends is what gives meaning to life, but it is
tiring. I tried to get my rest, avoid alcohol, climb
the stairs for exercise, but somehow managed to get
myself into a pattern of food consumption out of my
normal routine and the consequences were a bit
daunting. I warned myself that it would take
over-coming the ultimate temptations, but to no
avail. I have sinned, but I sinned boldly. Smoked
bluefish, lobster rolls, striped bass fish
sandwiches, scallops from Seafood Sam’s, oysters,
Cape tuna and swordfish, and plain old New England
lobsters with drawn butter – sounds like the diet
from which dreams are designed, but a the salt and
butter was excessive, though addicting. But, back to
the story. We have all been delayed at the airport
and missed flights, but when you sit around the
Provincetown airport for four hours and you
outnumber the TSA personnel (screeners etc.) you
know you are in a small terminal. Rain prevented our
six passenger Cape Air flight from arriving in
Boston so we got to see the Embassy Suites at the
airport up close and personal. Our dinner consisted
of the left over tuna fish we had saved for the long
foodless flight and a piece of the smoked bluefish
we were carting back to LA. No big deal, all in all,
but pretty mundane stuff set against the thoughtful
writings of Wayne Glass.
Actually while on the subject of my diet and off the
provocative meanderings I have attempted to produce,
most of us can relate to some form of dietary back
sliding during one’s life. I did not eat too much,
at least measured by weight gain which was minimal,
but I consumed a disproportionate amount of salty
seafood (is there any other kind) which, I presume
has led to a swelling of my legs again. The last
vacation in June was on the Missouri River canoeing
and nature loving, but my legs swelled to be of the
mature oak level; same pattern now – I slid
backwards and as is the case, have paid the piper.
One quick final note on diet. One evening we were
serving freshly caught and prepared bluefish.
Bluefish and wild caught salmon are high on the
super food list because of the omega 3 oils. Most of
us love salmon and eat it often, few of us eat
bluefish and those who do say it is too oily. Ask a
Cape Codder to prepare it for you and you might have
a different impression. One night we broiled it with
wasabi mayonnaise and served it with pickled ginger.
Bluefish Japanese style was a delight. In addition,
broccoli was the vegetable of choice, as it ranks
high on the cruciferous super food list, so we had
as good a healthy meal as one can prepare. Then we
all smiled when son-in-law Mark came home with a
bottle of blueberry vodka – the meal was now
complete. Cocktail hour took on new meaning as
blueberries are a super food as well and often part
of my daily breakfast fare. No more guilt with that
one cocktail when the blueberries are added.Here
it is: The modern miracle meal: blueberries,
broccoli, and bluefish. Sounds better than seaweed
and miso soup, and forms a nice alliteration. BBB –
now if I can have that for breakfast life is
perfect.
I thought 3 weeks away might be enough time to
correct my ailments. Wrong. Shortness of breath
remains as even the smallest exertion required rest.
Maybe the residual effects of chemotherapy have yet
to run their course. However, psyche in good shape
and the physical is not out of reach. I will know
more this week as I return to the medical buildings
that recognize me as I enter the parking structure.
More about Kreitler later.
I want to close with my heartfelt thanks to Wayne
and Ron Castle, the webmaster extraordinaire. I
experimented with a pinch hitter, and as a pitcher
all my baseball career, I know how important a pinch
hitter can be. I knew Wayne would enlighten and
educate, but we three had no idea to what effect
this form of web communication might have on the
on-going process. Admittedly, I had vowed to write
daily as long as I had cancer and coincidentally the
family vacation came on the heals of the negative
scans. Now that I am cancer free do I continue to
write, do I ask others who have experienced cancer
themselves or have a family member undergoing
treatment to write, or do I simply say goodbye to
this cathartic personal offering of Kreitler, Castle
and Glass.
Both Wayne and Ron enable me to think about life in
new ways. Ron, thoughtful, brilliant, and well
spoken, could not be a better web master. He will
continue that role if the Compact continues. Wayne
will always remain a trusted and special friend and
his wisdom will continue to inspire me.
I know my personal journey is not over and I will
write about daughter Jennifer occasionally, who, and
contrary to my experience, has had a terrible
reaction to her chemo therapy and radiation.
Pondering over decisions is not one of my long
suits, and I am not known for procrastination, so a
decision will be made as to the value, if any, in
continuing to write The Kreitler Compact.
It is nice to be home and in the aura of you and
others. Thanks.
Back to Week
24 |
