Women supposedly speak about 20,000 words per day, a number that is exactly 13,000 more words than the average man speaks during that same day. That means around about 160,000 words are spoken in our office each day by the eight women who are here every day. Another 80,000 are spoken by four other women who are close to me, but are not office mates. So, how in the hell did 12 women speaking a total of 240,000 words per day over a three-week period (which would yield just over 5 million words) keep one single word from getting to me about the fantastically sweet surprise that they, in cahoots with you, delivered to me at lunchtime today.
I knew this was not going to be a typical office lunch today for two reasons: It seemed to be planned days in advance and Rick McKnight, organist and Kiddie clothier extraordinaire, Betsy Covington and Ellen Brooks from the Community Foundation of the Chattahoochee Valley and Cyndy Cerbin from the National Infantry Museum were present. We took advantage of this glorious blue-bird-sky day to have lunch outside on the Houlihan’s patio under two large umbrellas. We ordered drinks and food and eloquent Betsy called us to order. She really did! She does that at Rotary every Wednesday and she’s quite good at it.
She said that the assembled group (Julie Chandler, Callie Sprague, Jenn Apffel, Cyndy Cerbin, Ellen Brooks, Rick McKnight, Betsy Covington, Marquette McKnight, Shelley Dean, Helena Coates) had been talking about the concerns I had blogged about — the one about going for treatment at Emory where I wouldn’t be among friends. My greatest fear has been going outside the comfort zone, surrounded by my friends/healthcare professionals here in Columbus. Betsy continued by saying that the group at the table, with some help from our computer consultant, Gerrit DeWitt, had initiated a three-week campaign to gather my army of supporters to send messages of encouragement to be placed in a journal and signatures on a T-shirt so that anyone who saw me coming at Emory would know I was there along with what Sherrie Watkins called my “traveling Verizon network.”
Betsy handed me a gift bag that contained the fruits of all this labor. First, a colorful T-shirt that says “I am strong, hell of a writer, amazing, beloved, mighty warrior, determined, heroic, courageous, prepared for battle, foul-mouthed follower of God! Secondly, a cd from Rick containing an organ-accompanied choral rendition of the poem “Fight the Good Fight.” And, a journal with photographs, handwritten messages and printed emails from dozens of my friends and regular readers of this blog. I’m speechless — but I have managed to cobble this post together to say thanks to these wonderful friends who joined Jill and me for lunch today and the hundreds of others, like you, who read this blog and are following us on our journey.
I expected this post to be the one that let all of you know about my next trip to Emory to set up the SRS, but I am still waiting to hear about the consultation between Drs. Stapleford and Hadjapanayis about the viability of SRS as a treatment for this spinal metastasis of my kidney cancer. Honestly, I know they’re busy up there, but going into a weekend with questions unanswered just sucks. My blood pressure has responded with a predictable upward trend line that I’m beating back into submission with a new medication.
This post is a big ol’ thank you for the This-is-Your-Life moment I had at your hands at lunch today. If this is a taste of what next March 19 at the American Cancer Society’s 2011 Crystal Ball is going to be like, I’m not sure I can take it. People, let me tell you, I’m smiling like Woodstock right now. Getting to feel the love of all the people who love you while you’re still alive and kicking is impossibly wonderful. I’m moved beyond words and Jill and I are most thankful for this gesture of kindness and support.
I’ll post again as soon as I get the call I’m so anxiously awaiting.
Yep, your group did a great job. I kept waiting to see your reaction and I’m glad it was a good one. Enjoy the surround sound of love.
Hey Mike,
Women CAN keep a secret!! We love you. Have a good weekend and don’t stress.
Di and Johnny
Mike, You are one special person and have so many faithful fans. Enjoy your Fall weekend and hopefully you’ll have good news to start next week off with.
Best blog title ever.
I LOVE that the WOMEN who posted thus far have used a few of the words we’ve been alloted. It’s easy to talk about someone we love so much — and that includes Jill (who could add a few words herself about love 🙂
My siblings and Caroline were at my house tonight. My brother Frankie asked me to do a search for the facebook site for HHS 71, and I did, and up popped 2 familiar faces — yours and Rick’s – we clicked on yours and there was this sweet note from you.
My husband says that he had been thinking that number was about right in our household. I think it might be half and half at the McKnights.
Hope you hear something soon. Doctors can be infuriating like that at times, but in medicine, slow news is usually good news.
You’ve got a hell of a lot of folks who’ve got your back! Thanks to the McKnight’s for putting this together and including me.
BTW, who or what is “Woodstock”?
-C
Connie, Woodstock is the little yellow bird in the Peanuts comic strip. Snoopy and Woodstock met when a mother bird built a nest on Snoopy’s stomach. There were two birds in it, and the mom never came back. Snoopy, one day, got fed up with the two birds, and threw them into the world. Snoopy’s first thought was that he was glad to be unburdened of the responsibility, yet later he appears to soften, thinking “here comes Woodstock, flying in his usual topsy-turvy way”. Thanks, Wikipedia!
My mother always said, “Sometimes when you need it the most, you are the most unloveable.” Meaning, when you are crabby, hateful, ornery (insert your own ugly adjective here), is when you are most in need of understanding and a hug.
Fortunately, you are very loveable and being around you, even in your tough spot, is very easy. We DO love you, and are happy to be there for you as your personal Verizon entourage.
Julie
Even as I contemplate a comment to you, tears are gathering at the corner of my eyes. My tears flowed at the table, too, when Betsy spoke and you and Jill cuddled close, looking through the journal of well wishes, surrounded by people who love and care about you. You and Jill engender such a unique sweetness in all your relationships, and it’s moving to see. Years of seeds sewn in love are now being harvested, and you are rightfully reaping the caring support that you need to get you through this “tight spot” as Betsy called it.
I have heard you and Jill say numerous times how blessed you are to be surrounded by such wonderful people, and I certainly wouldn’t argue against that. I would add, however that you have done much to cultivate these blessings, an example we would all do well to replicate.
Happy to be a face in the Venable Network crowd,
Callie
I, for one, probably speak well over 40,00 words a day…..sometimes I don’t understand myself, but, that being said, a lot of those words are about the Crystal Ball. And, yes, Mike, it will be the best ever! Keep preaching the “C” word so we can wake everyone up to this @#$% disease!
Hugs to you and Jill,
Debbie
Ohhh……….that Woodstock! I was worried that the smile was caused by something that might have been ingested at the “other”
Woodstock.