ROOM 254 - a memory during a stay in the ER

                    As  some of my readers of this non-fiction or at times straight-up-bullshit blog may know, I've been writing short stories after being diagnosed with cancer (the big 'C', as I recall, the usual marks I received in high school many years ago). Actually, my condition now is probably a C-, closer to a D. Unfortunately my eyesight has declined to the point where writing and even simply reading has become somewhat of a chore - I have to really magnify the words and although they are readable, they're still very blurry. I did go momentarily blind for about 20 minutes and I can say stepping out of the studio, hands outstretched in front of me as I  struggled to feel the side of the house on a cold November night, was more than a bit scary. If I hadn't of made it, my poor wife would have found me frozen stiff as an over-sized carrot lying face down on the ice. 

          During recovery time, much of it lying in bed enjoying various degrees of pain - well not really enjoying, more like reassuring me I was still among the living - I wrote several short stories, which will soon be published with some other ones. Anyone wishing to pre-purchase A Sure Thing and 6 Other Short Stories, it will be for sale very shortly for $15. plus shipping. 

          I know this might sound stupid but does anyone actually read anymore or are they all twiddling their thumbs on their phones these days, hoping they can enter the Olympics first ever strongest thumb event? Anyway, whether or not someone actually buys one of my books, of which I've written several, is not the reason I write stories. The main reason is that I'm hoping one of my stories will be made into an Oscar award winning movie, starring the most handsome actor and the most beautiful actress and I, of course will write the screen play and will become utterly famous and utterly rich, money will fall from the heavens like rain. And oh yes, mustn't forget the young, gorgeous and vivacious starlets, their incredible bodies falling into this old man's lap. All kidding aside, I enjoy bringing my mostly fictional characters to life (some of them nice and some of them at times evil) - what can I say - I often live in my own imaginative world - actually, sometimes better than the real one. My books are currently listed in our Trip 'n Daisy Etsy shop or you can email me directly to pre-order this new book.

          My non-fiction stories are occasionally inspired by something someone may have told me or like ROOM 254, this short story came to me while I was in ER at the hospital. I heard a real elderly woman sobbing just a few beds away from me and saying that she was all alone - most likely at her age, most of her immediate family had passed on. Being almost 78, not too far behind that old lady's age, touched this old guy's heart strings, the result being a somewhat emotional story - possibly even a love story, when two totally different strangers meet at the very ending of their lives.

          And speaking of loneliness, because of our business or forgetfulness, we should all try to make an effort to visit someone who is alone for long extended periods of time. Like that old lady in the hospital, you can't imagine how much she brightened up when a total stranger or a nurse took a little time to just talk to her - a smile and a few words is often all it takes to brighten up a lonely person...cheers, eh!

          

           

A SURE THING...

          A few people have told me that they miss my blogs - one woman saying I had a way with words - which I thought was a very nice compliment. I pretty much stopped writing blogs when I had been diagnosed with cancer, getting on close to 2 years now because I didn't want to sound as if I was whining all the time.  Between the radiation and chemo, you might say the crap was literally kicked out of me. After the first operation, Dr. Knapp cutting me open, (supposed to be a 3 hr. operation turning into 8 hrs.) rearranged my guts and attached a plastic bag to my tummy. I thought it might come in handy as a little purse, you know, stuff coins into it, especially toonies, have no idea how many of those we spent at the hospital parking lot. Besides losing all my hair, I also lost 30 pounds, actually got blown over by a gust of wind when I stepped out of the truck one cold November day. Hard to believe, there I was laying on the sidewalk and the rain pouring down on me; I knew I needed a bath but I thought that was rather extreme. A couple of months ago, Dr. Singh- Ranger removed the ileostomy bag and then arranged all my guts in the correct places. I'm still trying to get everything inside me working properly, at least as well as I can; told me I'd have to find a new normal for me - and also said I'd never be the man I used to be - would take one to two years to build up my strength; I'm still unable to twist a cap off an orange juice bottle, I'm so fricking weak.  However, all that being said I still have an A-hole but I no longer have a rectum - doctor described it as a drain pipe. Once my body gets the urge and even sometimes doesn't get the urge, it just starts coming out - I could probably go in a shitting-contest and win a blue ribbon for pooping out the longest turd - they're sometimes 2' in length or longer. 

            Although I haven't been writing any blogs, I have been writing, which is difficult - seems I have cataracts and my vision has really deteriorated - everything is blurry. Nothing like a half-blind artist and writer - if my eyesight keeps worsening, I'll have to buy a monitor that uses braille in order to feel the little bumps on the screen. But hey, I'm supposedly cancer free at the moment, so that's a good thing and even if I hadn't had that dreaded disease, I might be in the same state anyway - damn near 78, which makes me an old worn out bastard just the same.

          I've written several short stories while I'm still recovering and expect will write more, even though I have enough short stories to self-publish another book. A Sure Thing is based on the ten years I worked and lived at the racetrack (Exhibition Park, Vancouver, BC) when I was a young man. The photo at the bottom is a racehorse named Rough Road and I'm holding onto him next to my dad. He owned and trained 'Ruffy' as we called him. He was a great horse, almost always brought home a paycheck when he ran. He was one of those horses that have you holding your breath and tightly clutching your form chart because he always came out of nowhere from behind. And when he started moving that's when you started yelling! The story isn't about Rough Road but although there is some truth in this tale, it is highly fictitious. 

          During my years at the racetrack (being similar to a carnival atmosphere) I met many interesting people and looked after a lot of racehorses, so I've been thinking of writing a book about my experiences there and titling it Horse Tails. Although I had a lot of fun and exciting times then, I also had some very sad times too. 

          My book, A Sure Thing and 6 Other Short Stories will soon be available. The price is $15. plus $5. for shipping if it has to be posted. If anyone is interested or would like to prepay for the book, please let me know because it will give me a good idea how many books I should order from the printers. This is the second book of short stories I've published, the first being The Confession and Other Short Stories, which is the same price.

           Since my wife Sarah was able to magnify the monitor, it feels good to be able to write again  - can't even read a book these days because the printing is too small and blurry. At least I don't feel as useless anymore. She calls me her "giant toddler" (with love and gentle humour) and in some respects that's just what I've become. I'm hoping I'll be able to paint again if I don't make it too realistic, so I'll be trying that before too long, especially since there are quite a few blank canvases on hand and painting has been such a big part of my life, basically earned a living as an artist.

          Because so many friends and relatives have been exceptionally good to us during my cancer ordeal and are still continuing to do so, I'd really like to take this time to give them my heartfelt appreciation. To go through something like I'm going through would be terrible if I was totally alone, which some people are. I've always been an independent sort and to suddenly find myself unable to do very much and at times unable to do anything, to have help from others is something I don't take lightly and if able, would do the same for them.  

          My wife and I have an Etsy store for some of our other crafty endeavours. She makes beautiful rugs (upcycled-clothing) and I've been making jewelry made from dough (if you're starving and like lots of salt, simply scrape the paint and clear finish off and eat them) - cheers, eh.