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May 27, 2006 - Day 4 - Week 8 -
A Great Day!
The warning has come from many
sources and the results are exactly as predicted. I
have been told that just before the next chemo
therapy round, which begins Tuesday May 30th,
that I will feel great. I am not sure why this is
so, but today I felt like 2 million bucks, which is
1 million better than a million bucks.
The day started a bit later as
Katy and I did not go to the gym until 8:45 am. We
slept in. I read for 50 minutes as I walked on the
treadmill at 4 mph. I began a book called
SUPERFOODS. After immersing myself in another
Doctor’s prescription for healthy eating, my mind
wandered to an appropriate breakfast. Prior to
going to the gym I had had a spoonful of protein
powder mix with my green powder and that is not a
lot of calories.
To get to breakfast, first I
had to continue the requisite lifts, pushes, pulls,
pumps and grunts – I have noticed that the more one
grunts or groans at the gym the more others feel you
are accomplishing something. I am fairly quiet
during the workout; I guess I need to up the
intensity. 35 minutes into the routine I was
becoming lightheaded, so I quit.
The cool to warm shower is
better for the body when in treatment. A shower too
hot, a hot tub over 95, and drinks boiling hot, or
ice cold are considered off limits. I used to love
to soak in the tub and read, but now my use of water
is dramatically reduced. Cold showers at camp when
I was a boy convinced me of the value of fire. To
this day I am a woos when it comes to the
temperature of the water. Some like it hot, that’s
me!
Home at 11, food was dancing
like sugarplums in my head, and I set out to fill my
empty tummy. Whole grain pita bread filled with
organic tomatoes, soy bacon, and a mango salsa is
not only nutritious, but it was delicious. I’ll
remember that one! A green drink with protein powder
and I was filled up!
After a quick half hour nap
from 12:30 to 1:00 pm I was raring to go. To
explain just how great I felt today, I cleaned the
garage for 4 hours. I had not even attempted my
favorite home chore in months. A good day is when I
can arrange stuff, throw out stuff, organize stuff
and give away stuff – today all was accomplished and
I even vacuumed the garage floor to give it that
professional look.
When feeling good we can
accomplish much. As we age we begin to accept
declining health, and it should not be that way.
There is no reason to deteriorate physically as
rapidly as we seem to do, yet too often we
acknowledge this process without question. It is
time to question that inevitability. I am looking
forward to, (and I am creating a new word here),
“permanitize” the great feeling I experienced
today. In addition, I am going to work hard so I
can clean the garage more often. It will
take determination, sound sleep, a good exercise
regimen, sound medical procedures, a thoughtful
diet, and patience.
Today the sun was out and I
felt the sunshine internally. As a matter of
record, it was probably the finest I have felt since
this whole ordeal began, perhaps as long as two
years ago. Amen!
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