How I See It: Reflections on spirituality, technology, and the art of everyday life

A post opp update Posted Tuesday, December 2, 2008 at 3:58 PM Well, Tuesday I had my surgery and now I’m well on the road to recovery. There were no major surprises—“everything seemed to go well,” according to the surgeon. I was rolled into the OR at 3:00 PM; by 7:00 PM my surgeon was updating my parents, and by 10:00 I was in my room. The staff seemed surprised at how well I did. They kept waking me to ask about pain, and I kept telling them I wasn’t in any. All I really wanted to do was sleep. Around 2:00 AM I woke up and asked for something to drink. I’d been told the most important thing was to get up and walk as soon as possible, so by 3:00 AM (12 hours after surgery started) I was walking the oncology corridors, listening to other patients’ screams. I don’t know whether to feel lucky I’m not that bad off—or worried that I could get that bad. Wednesday morning I had pancakes while I waited to see my surgeon. I was told to expect a two-night stay, but when the surgeon s...

Christmas Letter 2008 Dear friends, It’s my custom this time of year to share the gift of self—to tell you a bit about what the last year has brought me. The happiest surprise was finding Facebook and reconnecting with so many friends. If you’re not on it, I recommend it—it feels more “grown-up” than other sites. As for the year itself… you know the Chinese curse: “May you live in interesting times.” That about covers it. But here’s more. The year began bittersweet. On Christmas Day I looked up from writing and saw snow—a light dusting, but still snow on Christmas. I was thrilled, then sad, thinking how much Linda would have loved it… or how our never-born children would have loved it. In February my old friend Mike Auerbach (since 2nd grade) visited to give me “hanging out” lessons—skills he thinks I’ll need to meet someone new. I wasn’t a great student. I’m following my mentor Weaver’s advice instead: “No hurry. Let the right woman find you. Make yourself beautiful wit...

Back to Knife Dear Friends, This morning I received a phone call from my Endo (Endocrinologist). He told me that the results of the MRI are back and that the growth is 1.2 x 10 mm. This is slightly larger than what can be treated with radiation alone, so I’ll (unless they change their minds again) be going under the knife — again. My Endo said, “We want to scrape out whatever we can before the radiation.” That doesn’t sound like fun to me. I have an appointment with my surgeon — the same one who did my last surgery — on Monday. He does good work (although he could use a personality transplant). Last time there was very little pain, and it healed well (see the pic). This week I also received my copy of the pathology report. This time it indicates that they found architecture of both papillary and follicular thyroid cancer. Last time it was only papillary cancer. Follicular is a much more aggressive strain. I asked my Endo about this, and he told me that I’m still considered to ...

It's back Dear Friends, This afternoon I got a call from my doctor. He told me that the biopsy confirmed I do, in fact, have papillary thyroid cancer. This is the same cancer I had two years ago. At that time, I had my thyroid removed and underwent radiation therapy. I was told that if you’re going to have cancer, thyroid is the kind to get — it’s the most easily treated of all the cancers. But when they removed it last time, they said it was in everything they touched — parathyroid, skeletal muscles, and lymph nodes. The doctor called it “massive and extensive.” This time it has appeared in a lymph node, so the sooner I get it out, the better. Now it’s back, and I’ll be starting treatment again as quickly as I can arrange it. The doctors still want to run some tests before surgery. I’m hoping to have it done the second week of November, but there’s a lot to do before then. Sometime this week, I hope to meet with my surgeon. After the surgery comes the radiation treatment....

A brief history of my medical problems (in case you don’t already Dear friends, Looking at the updates I have been posting (on Facebook) and the notes, it occurs to me that some of you who have only recently found me again might not know why I am having these tests and problems. So here is a brief (even though it is long) summary of what has been going on the last couple of years. In late 2005 I was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis, and they found I had lumps on my thyroid. In January I was given a needle biopsy of the thyroid. After the biopsy (I do not know if my neurological problems are connected to this biopsy, but it started within 3 days) I began having various neurological symptoms including bilateral facial paralysis (at its worst I had to pinch my mouth closed to chew), sensitivity to light and sound, double vision, blurred vision (for months my eyeglass prescription would change almost daily), changes in sense of taste, nausea, fatigue, drooping eyelids (the r...

The Ultimate Killer App—Dear Bill An Open Letter to Bill Gates,The Ultimate killer App! Microsoft Corporation Attn: Bill Gates One Microsoft Way Redmond, WA 98052-6399 Subject: The Ultimate Killer App! My Dear Mr. Gates, Let me introduce myself. My name is Odell Hathaway. I have been a computer programmer since 1977, when my parents purchased their first computer for their business—an IBM 5100 Portable Computer. This was IBM’s attempt to develop a microcomputer that, of course, was eventually overshadowed by your DOS operating system and the IBM Personal Computer. As I say, I have worked as a computer programmer for over 30 years, man and boy. I have developed and maintained software both for companies with their own computers and software (developed in-house by me), and I have worked for companies that develop software or modify other people’s software (value-added resellers). While I am a fairly good developer of new software, I have found that I am also e...

Tax States Proportionately The Columbian Serving Clark County, Washington   July 21, 2008 Our Readers' Views Tax States Proportionately Instead of the United States taxing its citizens, I would suggest the federal government should tax the states and let each state decide how it will support the federal government. Each state would be responsible for a portion of the total federal budget, based on the number of representatives it has in Congress. Washington would owe 9/435ths of the total federal budget, Oregon 5/435ths, and California 53/435ths. The more say a state has over the budget, the more it pays. Control over taxation would move closer to the people. The federal budget would be balanced, states would not ask for so much from the federal government, and as states take less money, federal control over them would decrease. States’ rights would be strengthened. ...