Then it rained, and our desert gave birth to a LOT of frogs. Ribbit ribbit ribbit.
All...night...long.
And now I'm developing boils.
When I told Barb that I seemed to be taking on the Plagues of Egypt, she was definitely not amused.
And it's not funny, but really, guys, it is.
The pain and the discomfort and the overall crap are so bad now...there aren't good moments, much less days, and tomorrow will be worse.
But I'm still living the dream. Cancer wants to hold me down, force me into a foetal position, begging for a morphine drip.
OK, yeah, you caught me. I do that a couple of times a day.
And then I get up, and do what I can do.
It's not much. God, it's so little, compared to what was! But anything done intentionally, looking to the future, is better than nothing.
No matter how much it hurts to smile, I still smile, because, well, it saves energy.
Forty-three muscles are needed to frown, but only seventeen to smile. (And only three to properly pull a trigger...)
I'll stop at smiling. Except when there are rattlesnakes about.
And no matter how much it hurts to try to talk, I can save my breath for jokes.
Heard about the new horror flick, set in a haunted oatmeal factory?
It's called Scream Of Wheat.
And now all aboard! the Soul Train with Carl Carlton, for a happy listen to Everlasting Love.
Please pardon my slow response to comments. I do my best, and your comments are really precious to me. Barb is answering many of them now. I'm running on fumes, if you don't mind a macho metaphor.
I'm grateful for the energy to have written this. I'm so glad Barbara's stepped in for many of my posts. I'm really not doing well at all.
Thanks to Carol Ashby, Blessed Are The Pure Of Heart is back on Kindle, and will be available in paperback soon.
Friends are everything. I couldn't have done it.
Marley, the canine waif from Afghanistan, whom WE helped save, has a Facebook page! Please drop by to see how happy he is today.
If you can, please do leave a comment. I am trying to answer all, and I am failing, but please know this - I read and treasure each one.
Below are my recent releases on Kindle -please excuse their presence in the body of the blog. I haven't the energy to get them up as 'buttons' in the sidebar. You can click on the covers to go to the Amazon links.
Keep smiling!
ReplyDeleteWanna hear a bad cat joke?
Just kitten!
Nomad, I LOVE that one! Thanks! :)
DeleteOh friend...
ReplyDeleteThank you for fighting with bad jokes and a bit of a grin. Thanks for being honest about the battle friend. You ARE loved, you and Barb
Janel (viepourcettetemp.wordpress.com)
Janel, we;re so grateful for this...we feel and return the love!
DeleteSo sorry, Andrew and Barb...prayers.
ReplyDeleteBetsy, we sure appreciate the prayers...the funny thing is, as the pain keeps spiraling and new stuff keeps going wrong, I'm still happy.
DeleteI can't live the life I'd like, but I can like the life I live, if that makes sense.
Sorry to hear about your pains...yet I had to smile when I read your humorous take on it! Blessings to you!
ReplyDeleteKatha, thank you so much! Humour's the only way to...er...go.
DeleteScream of Wheat? O Andrew.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Susan! I specialize in groaners.
Delete(((((Andrew)))))
ReplyDelete(((((Barbara)))))
Love from Annie
Love back, ((((((((((Annie))))))))))!
DeleteOH Andrew, I LOVED the Scream of Wheat joke because it reminded me of the years I drove my son to school - he in the front seat with his joke books. Oh how you made me smile, friend. And may you keep smiling, keep telling bad jokes, keep living, and keep loving Barb. Praying for you both this morning!
ReplyDeleteJoanne, I'm so glad you liked the joke...and we are so very grateful for the prayers.
DeleteScream of Wheat. LOL Gotta tell my 6- and 9-yr-old grandsons. Andrew, God has truly been LOYAL to you, hasn't he? Steadfast, unwavering, faithful -- even when you wonder what he has left for you here. Thankfully, that's for him to know. In turn, you're giving back to him your loyalty by sharing your smiles (and bad jokes!) with your neighbors. Prayers continue for you and Barb.
ReplyDeleteI think you are just trying to scare the "BeJesus" INTO us!!! ;) ......... (As I wake up during the night and my prayers turn toward my lost son, they turn also to you friend. I hope that means you are covered 24/7! )
ReplyDeleteHey Andrew... I REALLY want to get your book (Blessed are the pure of heart) , but it says it's out of print? ... Help. Any leads or advice?
ReplyDeleteI love your determination to keep going and even keep smiling!
ReplyDeleteI love your sense of humor, and your positive attitude!
ReplyDeleteJANE... ATTENTION...
ReplyDeleteIf you have a kindle you can buy the kindle version of Andrew's book on amazon.
I looked.
Annie
I don't have a Kindle... :(
DeleteOh Andrew, you amaze me. A sense of humor in the midst of it all. Praying still. I'm in the 42 spot this week.
ReplyDeleteTara, thanks so much, especially for the prayers.
DeleteLoved your post, but still...
Roll Tide.
Scream of wheat. Oh my goodness! Love you and Barb.
ReplyDeletePaula, thank you! Love back, from both of us.
DeleteI continue to pray for you, Andrew. May God bless you every second of the way!
ReplyDeleteMari-Anna, we truly appreciate the prayers...and I am living in God's blessing, up to my eyeballs.
DeleteMay the plauges cease the peace of God reign. Dear God,
ReplyDeleteYou are Mighty. Forgive us for doubting. Thank you for loving. Give pain relief to this couple. Amen.
Jenn, thank you so much for this lovely prayer. It means the orld to us.
DeleteStopping by from FMF. I so appreciate the resilience you are demonstrating on a daily basis (perhaps hourly, perhaps by the minute). My mom had cancer for many, many years and I know it isn't easy to find those pockets of humor and feelings of content. But, I can read you finding them here. Such a special way of sharing your experience with others who can identify, commiserate and pray! Thanks for stopping by my little corner of the web.
ReplyDeleteSue, thank you so much for being here; I'm so sorry you had to walk this road with your Mom. It's so hard!
DeleteI truly appreciate your taking the time to stop by, and to leave these kind words of encouragement.
Praying for you this weekend, Andrew! Thanks for continuing to show up each week-
ReplyDeleteJennifer, thank you so much...you prayers are truly appreciated.
DeleteYour honesty... your humor... you. Grateful for these today!
ReplyDeleteTondra, thank you...we're grateful for YOU!
DeleteBahahahahahahahahaha*gasp*hahahahahahahaha!
ReplyDeleteScream if Wheat!! LOVE it! Jerry laughed so hard he snorted lol!
Prayers continue as always for you guys!
Diana, we're so glad you enjoyed it, and we SO appreciate the prayers!
Delete