How are you doing? Well I hope & having a happy ALL Souls Day. HEALTH: I’m fine and able to report that October was a good month here- my blood work #’s looked good or stable, the MRI of the pancreas area showed nothing of concern, I had my biliary drain tube’s 6-week exchange accomplished in Santa Fe (vice the 6-hour drive north to Denver), and I had my chemo-port removed (it’d been in me for almost a year, but glad to say good-bye). The chemo-port removal was not without some drama: the blood thinner I’d been taking (Xarelto) was withheld for 98-hours and shortly after resumption my urine became dark red (like Burgundy, then later Cabernet, and eventually Rosé). In less than a day functions returned to normal and the decision by docs-n-self were to cease the blood thinner (the MRI showed no abdominal clot which had been the reason for thinners in the first place). We have both received our Pfizer booster shots (along with annual flu season inoculations), so we feel we’re set for the upcoming season.
TRAVEL (& NOT): Yes, getting older is not for the faint of heart. It has been a great trip, with hopefully many turns ahead. We have postponed a couple of out-of-state trips, deferring to more opportune times. Our San Diego sojourn should now be in late March, with a stop in Phoenix for a few days enroute. I learned something about American Airlines while trying to reschedule: they can be rigid and not nice to deal with. In fact, AA in this household now stands for “A$$hole Air” (recounting the particulars makes my BP climb, so I’ll just leave it at that).
Meme continues to be amazing taking care of Lucy, “Casita de Joven” & me, in addition to her sports climbing pursuits with friends on trips primarily in northern NM. On one such trip to El Rito her party encountered a local resident that was by his own admission “out harassing folks” – turns out Meme had hired his daughter at the Office of the State Engineer (where she was still employed) and another incident was avoided (bonding is always better).
Justin made his office move from Carlsbad to Albuquerque (state Public Defender) in mid-Sept. & his personal belongings in mid-Oct. His new place is 1-block off Historic Route 66/Central Ave. (Tri-level duplex, 2-BR & 2.5 BA, 1,400+ sq. ft.). Things seem to be working out: his work group is rotating the plethora of initial appearances needed by the clients of NM’s Public Defender.
Lucy the wonder dog is a month away from b-day #13. She is markedly slower, with many hitches in her giddy-up, but some days she still manages to eat a couple of meals (most days 1 + some treats). Her episode with Cushing Disease is waning due to twice daily meds. Her eyesight is limited, also treated several X each day, and there are times we think she is doing a “Tommy” impersonation.
Arch-bark: I have been involved with setting up a fund, through the Humboldt State University Foundation (a 501c3), assisting students to participate in an archaeological field school (southwest Belize). “IF” you are interested in donating to this most worthy endeavor this is how you too can contribute: You just need to go here - https://alumni.humboldt.edu/hsu-giving
Then go to the box that says “Designation”, and pick “Other” from the drop-downs, and then write Belize Field School. I’ve been assured your gift will go to our fund.
You can also send a check made out to the HSU Foundation with the Belize Field School in the memo line.
The address is: HSU Foundation, Humboldt State University, 1 Harpst Street, Arcata, CA 95521
Not only will I be very appreciative, it makes a wonderful holiday gift on multiple levels.
I’ve also continued works for the Site Steward Foundation towards having a 3-day Tularosa Basin tour next autumn (about now in 2022) with visits to pithouse concentrations, paleo-sites and petroglyphs. I’m also working with another arch to conduct a survey on the lands owned by Humboldt-daze compadre/s in the Chama River Valley near T’sama Owingeh (Pueblo). I have yet to resume NM SiteWatch patrols, but that day is getting close-at-hand.
Last month’s update indicated that I might include “maybe some more concert memories: Derek & the Dominos concert in Dallas on Nov. 6, 1970.” I’d love to, but I don’t remember much having suffered from a bad case of seasonal-blues-n-melancholy disorder about then. I do remember that Duane Allman was with them: a great treat - next time I’ll tell you about my (brief) conversation with Duane in May of 1971. (Yep, already over 50-years ago.)
Of the readers of this at least four of us were at the Rolling Stones concert in the Superdome in ’81. One’s memories were of the numerous bands opening for The Stones like The Neville Brothers, George Thorogood and the Destroyers, and some newbie being promoted by The Neville Brothers named Prince. It was a largest indoor concert crowd (87,500) for decades and my memories to this day were negative (“worst concert I’ve ever been to”): the acoustics sucked – too much bounce back and echoing to the point of being inaudible (it also didn’t help that ticket scalpers out front were selling ingress for about ¼ of what you paid beforehand, leading to just too many of us. I guess I was getting old). Ah, memories: it was indeed quite a line up – wish I could’ve heard them.
Last time I also said about this next time: “Maybe some thoughts on mental health…”
That is quite a topic that goes far beyond my energy levels to adequately consider. There are too many incidents of military/veterans, first responders & public safety officers (PSO), and Native Americans taking their own lives - beyond the percentages found in the general public. Anyone that has had a muzzle in their mouth and a finger on the trigger, or started a long road trip in a closed garage, or even knowingly took too many opioids, or many other self-termination methods needs help. Needs HELP – period.
We’ve gotten a little better at providing avenues for that. During much of my career it seemed those channels were not available to PSO’s without dire consequences, like losing your job. One was encouraged to cultivate hobbies, ride a bicycle or jog-your-brains out, but talking about your darkest secrets: not a good idea. Not really conducive to meaningful talk. I think we’ve improved: now we have increased access to counselors and therapists, but it seems the suicide rate still keeps trending upwards. What is missing? I think it might be “HOPE”. It is amazing what we can work through when we have it. I know from personal experience, and not just from these recent campaigns & combat with cancer.
Now, for the Positive Event of-our-Month: it would be attending the International Balloon Fiesta on special shapes Friday (Oct. 8th). We joined a climbing friend, parking at a co-worker’s B&B in the riparian zone (large old cottonwood trees) just west of the Balloon Park. From the west bank of the arroyo we watched the nearby inflations, launches and even some recoveries (eventually). It was a great morning.
So, for now wishing you, yours & ALL the very best:
Be safe – be healthy – be happy.
Phil & Meme
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