Mid week went by pretty much uneventful. Robin was still down for the count so when Cathy and Russell invited me to tag along on a bike ride I jumped at the chance. They’ve been in the area for awhile so I figured they knew the backroads far better than I. They camped here for years and a year ago purchased a park model. They work part time in the office assisting with the computer system. We did a three hour circle and they pointed out some interesting sights. I noted Russell’s GPS system as there would be no way in the world I would be able to find those places again on my own. Meandering the hills of Berks Country proved much more interesting that I thought as a wealth of switchbacks was something totally unexpected. Upon my return, Robin was feeling better but by evenings end I could feel she had passed this chest cold onto me. Thursday and Friday were relatively slow days at the cafe. A good thing as I feel totally washed out. Thank goodness we picked up a healthy supply of cillins (penicillin, amoxicillin, etc.) when we visited Mexico while down in Arizona this past spring. All I want to do when we get home is sleep as my eyelids feel about as heavy as the July humidity. Hopefully this will all be gone by Saturday so we can enjoy the golf cart parade scheduled for the 4th festivities.
Cruising
Knowing Chondrosarcoma?
“One minute I held the key, next the walls were closed on me.
And I discovered that my castles stand on pillars of salt and pillars of sand.”
Being free from the duties of the cafe today we had planned on making the trip across the Delaware River to visit with Ryan and Carolyn. However, Robin spent most of the night on the couch, hacking through a chest cold. She insisted I make the trip alone and spend some quality time with our son. She didn’t want to expose anyone else to her summer misery. It proved to be a great time to process the vast amount of information that I’ve been gathering the past few days. Allow me to alert you here as this may be another lesson on cancer. Hopefully it will be the last for awhile. I don’t want to bring you to boredom but several emails over the past few 
days have requested this information. I hope to share what I’ve learned with other cancer patients, especially those possessing chondrosarcoma. Chondrosarcoma is a rare form of cancer. It develops from normal cartilage which goes through malignant change. People who have chondrosarcoma have a single tumor growth which can vary in size and location. If chondrosarcoma is found in the region of the neck, it can be located in the cartilage of the larynx, (hyoid or cricoid) or the cervical spine. If it is found in the skull it is usually found in the skull base, beneath the brain. You see where I’m going with this? My first stint with the disease was such, located in the windpipe, attached to the larynx. Successful surgery, albeit an altered voice but still a voice. The tumor I now possess is in the base of the brain. I’m thinking logically and hopefully without much emotion and I’m seeing a great chance of another bout of chondrosarcoma. The tumor has grown from the size of a dime to that of a quarter. There is considerable swelling of the brain around the tumor. In all my research I have found confirmed what four surgeons have previously stated. There are no known alternative treatments to cure chondrosarcoma. None. If you, the reader should happen to have substantiated proof of an alternative cure for this rare cancer, please inform me. The most effective method of treating chondrosarcoma to prevent recurrence or possibly create a cure is ablative surgery with clear margins. There you have in just a small nutshell what I’ve learned over the past few days. Enough of the lecture circuit. It usually takes an hour and fifteen minutes from Lake In Wood to my destined village in New Jersey. Today’s traffic and orange barrels cost me an extra hour. It proved to be fruitful. By the time I had reached Ryan’s house my decision was made. I will forego 
the cyberknife for surgical removal of the tumor. (I have always known when to hold ’em, but also when to fold ’em.) It shall wait until September as I’m still asymptomatic. Why September? Dr. Howard Goldberg, my personal hero, allowed me to choose the date for my first cancer surgery. I chose 9/11 and that proved successful. My quest is to have history repeat itself. I shared my decision with Ryan and then Carolyn as she came home from work and we all went out to the Hollywood Diner for lunch. Then Ryan and I cruised the aisles of Home Depot in search of a new Dremel. (I’m making some new plant stands out of PVC pipe) My old one just doesn’t seem to want to hold on to any accessories. Then it was back home to his office. Ryan is in the modern technological world where his office is in his home and video conferencing takes place in a pair of shorts and t-shirts. I played man-secretary for him, scanning and shredding while he worked his computer magic. It was a great day. I was able to stay until late in the afternoon. As I was crossing the Commodore Barry bridge, I phoned UPMC and informed them of my choice. Cancel the plans for the cyberknife. I have chosen the full scale surgery. I didn’t want them prepping for the knife when it would be all for naught. They informed me that they were pleased that I made the right decision. Orange barrels and traffic congestion from that point on just seemed to be of moot concern.
Busy, Bikes, and Berries
Sunday morning. It’s busier today than any other day. I thought I was prepared. Enough eggs beaten, pancakes mixed, bacon and potatoes fried all beforehand to prepare for the crowds. And then the onslaught. It didn’t wait for church to be over, it started as soon as the doors opened at 8. I looked up from the grill and there hung 14 orders awaiting my attention. And then I glanced over my shoulder, I saw the line extend from the counter, out towards the door and down the steps. This was going to be non-stop for awhile. The next time I turned around to see that every order was addressed and no slips hung before me it was 10:30. But this is the way of the cafe. There is no consistency or humming along. There is either no one or they come in droves. I love the droves. I need the rush. It exhiliarates me to have so many want their cuisine in such a short time. It’s a contest. And I’m winning so far. It made the day just fly by and 2 o’clock came quickly. Back to the RV for some R&R. Robin needed it as she ran her feet off. Me, I still needed to think. Time for a bike ride. I began touring the county and made it to Route 30, the Lincoln Highway, just outside of Coatsville. It wasn’t three minutes heading west that I encountered the revolving red lights carrying the paramedics. I immediately thought about giving up the bike. There in front of my eyes he lay. Lifeflight hovering over the treetops. Photos will remain from view to give some sense of decency to the victim. I just want to point out to you brethren riders that we need to be extremely careful out there. By 6:30 I had just garaged the bike in the trailer and headed out on my golf cart to the other side of the grounds. I had heard a mother skunk had four little ones following her and I was checking for photo ops. 
Going no more than past the office I encountered Cheryl coming my way. We paused to exchange pleasantries. She had an invite in mind. In ten minutes I was back with Robin heading to the site of Cheryl and Jerry. She had tempted me with homemade blueberry pie a la mode. And you know me. I would rather have pie than food. Cheryl works as the meter reader, manning the front gate and a few other things. Jerry , well he fixes everything. And if it’s not broke, he’s maintaining it. Jerry is the maintenance emperor. Everyone in the park knows him by name. We have a connection with them via North Carolina along with some commonalities by way of public education. But the pie was not the real reason our visit was so pleasant. Its just that these two are such congenial and unassuming souls. The more people I meet here, the more I find how genuine my colleagues seem to be. By the time our visit ended, we needed the headlights on the golf cart. How entertained I was today.
GypsyLarry
