Columns

It’s been 14 weeks since I learned that I had B-cell lymphoma.

That seems like a short time–only three and a half months–but in some ways it seemed like an eternity.

In the beginning it was a seemingly endless parade of doctors and tests. Just when I thought I was finished, I received another referral; another test; another opinion.

Driving to Gainesville two or three times a week–and later every day–gave me a lot of time for contemplation and self discovery.

 I’ve always empathized with Frankenstein’s monster. Through no fault of his own, he found himself a hideous scar-bearing creature that people feared, mocked and ran from. 

A little over a year ago when I went ziplining over the Mexican jungles, I said I crossed another thing off the bucket list that I didn’t even know existed.

It’s true. There are many things I want to do in this life, but except for a couple I’ve never made it my mission to work toward those dream adventures.

At this point in my life I pretty much just take every day as it comes and if an opportunity presents itself, I jump at it because it may not pass my way again.

 In almost 25 years working in the weekly newspaper realm, I’ve managed to avoid voicing my opinions about two subjects: politics and religion.