A weekend ride with David

I took a ride tonight through Riverfront Park all the way out as far as Frandor. I used to do this all the time when Jarek was young enough to fit on a kiddy seat on my bicycle. Of course, we made those trips at three in the afternoon, rather than three in the morning. I enjoy riding through the park in the morning hours because often it feels as if I have the entire park to myself. Years ago, I would take Jarek out to Kircher Park in East Lansing to watch the ball games. Taking a cruise through on a sunny afternoon is very pleasant, and I believe to reach East Lansing is at least a five mile ride. What a great idea, the day some genius thought of building a park along the banks of the river as it runs through Lansing. On the way home tonight I spotted four deer in Potter Park; what looked to be a buck, a doe, and a couple of fawns. The minute I tried to move up along side them they used the Grand River as an escape route, and made a big splash when they hit. Very pleasant spending some early morning hours where the loudest noise you encounter is wild animals leaping into a river.

A weekend with the boys...

Another weekend gone by, spent with two young lads and a slew of their young friends, most notably Brianna, who seems to have a really nice case of the hots for Barry. And, by golly, Barry reciprocates, too. As a matter of fact, it still blows me away that he painted her nails for her; I would not believe that I saw an eight year old boy doing that if I had not gotten a photograph. And Brianna actually ran over to the local QD to buy candy & bring it back to share with the boys. I was rather amazed when she returned with candy cigarettes, I did not realize those were even still being made. Talk about a politically incorrect candy. Actually, I would rather the boys did not have the things, but; their friend spent her own money and I did not have the heart to say 'no'.

And later on we all went for a bike ride over to the School for the Blind, where Jarek demonstrated his manliness after losing a couple of fair-sized patches of skin when he wiped out on his bicycle. I kidded him about suddenly deciding he was no longer interested in playing and wanting to go back home, but he got himself back with a minimum of fuss, and then sat with his mouth closed in the bathroom while I disinfected his injuries and taped on some gauze pads. He had one scrape he did not even notice until we arrived at the house. I was quite impressed.

A matter of priorities...

What a day. Two exams, one I passed with all flags flying, one that was such a crash & burn I felt like a passenger on the Hindenburg. All a matter of priority, I guess, although I would have been delighted to pass both examinations. However, the exam I failed had to do only with studies, and my great difficulties mastering algebra. I understand one side of our mind works with numbers and one side develops language and words, and I have long suspected which half of my brain is dominant. Unhappily, I have had difficulty working with numbers all of my life, and things only seem to be getting worse. Be that as it may. I read once that the number of times you are knocked down are not as important as the number of times that you get back up, and I like the philosophy.

As for the other exam, my oncologist seemed happy with me today, and if she is happy, I am happy. As a cancer survivor, I see this doctor on a regular basis to insure that the thirty sessions of chemotherapy that I underwent three years ago are still having the desired effect. Having been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma at stage four, I have been told that a total cure is very unlikely. However, with proper care and treatment I can live longer, perhaps much longer.