How Are You Doing?

A friend of mine sent me an e-mail and asked me "how are you doing?" - this was my reply.

Hello friend, so you ask how am I doing?  I'm doing fairly well these days.  My health seems to be rather stable.  September 11 was the four-year anniversary since my diagnosis and the life expectancy I was told is 3 to 5 years.  So, I figure things will go really downhill over the next year or two and I will gracefully exit this world, or I will remain stable and live forever being a burden on my wife and family.  On a daily basis I usually feel pretty good.  I remained in my bed most of the time, but I have television and my computer here to help me with diversions.  Writing my memoirs has been very therapeutic and enjoyable.  It keeps me busy a couple hours a day and distracts me from the boredom of be in bed all the time.  Would you be willing to read what I wrote and give me a frank opinion about it?  I don't want to send it off to any publishers or unlessI feel or get some feedback that it is worthwhile to read.  I have no grand illusions of becoming a famous writer or anything like that.  But I would publish it if I thought it was of some value.  Some days I'm very positive and then others I get quite depressed.  It usually seems to coincide with my constant battle with constipation.  If I had a good --- that day, then I'm in a good mood, feel energetic and in general good health.  If no elimination occurs for sometimes three or four days, then I began to feel crappy (pardon the pun) ...  Then it can sometimes get a little depressing.  please don't offer advice about fiber, prune juice and stuff.  I've tried it all..

I do get into my wheelchair two or three times a week, and outside into the neighborhood sometimes.  That's enjoyable.  Mineko and Christopher of course are the center of my universe these days.  I love them both so dearly and treasure the time I have with them.  Christopher makes me proud, he works hard at Starbucks still and continues to plug away at college.  I worry that one day soon, he will want to move out on his own.  That's inevitable, I guess I'll deal with it then in my own way.  Mineko is my hero.  She works full-time and takes care of me full-time, doing things for me that no woman should naturally have to do for her husband.  But most of the time she does these things gladly and out of love.  I'm lucky to have her.  I have many friends like you who I keep in touch with both electronically and sometimes visiting physically.  That's important to me as well and keeps me active and interested in the activities in the world.  Unfortunately my parents are not doing well with their health.  I'm afraid that my father has had some difficulty with blood clots and my mother is just exhausted from all the stress.  They both have had very full and wonderful lives, it's just sad to see them having such a difficult time.  I get frustrated that I cannot go to Arizona and help them. If you have time send your positive thoughts or prayers our way.  Keep in touch.

I read a great Quote today...  It goes like this: "do your best and then relax. let things go on in a natural way, rather than force them."  This was from a great Hindu teacher over 100 years ago... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paramahansa_Yogananda

Well, you asked me how I was doing??  There you go.  How are you?