I happily turned 53 today and I am very pleased to report that I remain largely asymptomatic two months after my terminal diagnosis (see prior post for those details). It is, of course, sobering to know this will be my last birthday. Since my last post, I have written my obituary and arranged for my body to be available for anatomy study by students and health professionals. Not to worry because over the past two months I have also made plenty of time for some fun!

In April, I enjoyed flying our Flying Club's Cessna 172s eight times and I posted a picture I took of me flying. I took Cady up twice, including a visit to another airport, and Amelia once. One of my flights involved climbing to 14,000' and although the plane could go a bit higher, I did not exceed this altitude since I didn't have supplemental oxygen. That limit is not only a good idea, it's also an FAA regulation. My most recent flight a few days ago was with my brother, Christopher, who is visiting again from Alaska for 2.5 weeks. During that flight, at about 2,500' above the ground, we were briefly accompanied by a majestic bald eagle flying below our right wing, flying in our direction of flight as we passed it not 50 feet away. We got a great view of it in the high-wing plane, and it was truly a magical moment!

About once a week I've enjoyed multi-hour hikes in the woods with a few friends at a time. I have liked going alone on some shorter neighborhood walks and runs, too. And I have almost completed my multi-month home workout program and thus looking forward to starting the next level. So, all in all, doing my best to stack things in my favor fitness-wise. Amelia says I'm "not acting like someone dying of cancer and that's the way we should all live, every day."

With Cady, and now Chris, we've been enjoying Rummikub and watching late-night movies and Netflix together, after Amelia's bedtime. And Chris's arrival means significant house projects are again underway, and he's very efficient so as not to waste any time "burning daylight", as he likes to say. I do my best to help and keep up!

 

Peter is joining us for a family dinner tonight, and he's coming back for tomorrow's dinner when we'll celebrate my birthday with a proper family party and cake. I am looking forward to being surprised by Amelia's Top Secret, goofy-fun party she's cooked up with my family for tomorrow, especially since I do know there is cake involved.