Questions, Answers, and Whiskey Celebrations

Two weeks ago I had a good MRI. The thing hasn't disappeared or anything but things have been stable for a while. Here's to radiation. Here's to Temodar.

Or is it?

Cuz what did what? Get it? I did them both at the same time over two years ago, continued with the chemo thing, so who's to get the trophy?

Besides me, that is. Cuz I'm still here. Still here with love and the ability to write such gushy words as that too.

So back to the song: How many rounds of chemo can this Jewish boxer swallow, how many pills can he stand? The answer my friend, is no one really knows, cuz this stuff ain't been out long enough for anyone to be too sure.

It's always up to you, patients; it's always up to you. And the people you ask, and what your doctor tells you, and what your uncle the doctor tells you, and what the rabbi tells you, and what your parents tell you, and what your sister tells you, and what you hear inside, what you hear inside, enough's enough, enough's enough, not because you can't take it anymore cuz you can but because the poison's done all it can now and you have overcome this fucking monster, you hear me? I have overcome you, fucking dead armless grendel, and a decision has been made and on next Monday night instead of beginning to take the poison we will celebrate with Maker's Mark, straight up; we will celebrate with whiskey, god, and love.

Musicowackia

I should also let y'all know I'm written about in Oliver Sacks' big hit Musicophilia. O, that pen pal pal of mine. Check out chapter two of that cool book of his and you can read more details on our communicadoship.

I sent Dr. Sacks a copy of The Year of Death about a month ago. I doubt he'd ever follow the link and read it online.

And what if he responds? In a good way? With one of those sentences or two that you find on the cover or back cover like he's done hundreds of times already? Do you think he even writes them? Or does his assistant write those, too?

Out of the Blogger Closet? Eric's Brain Tumor Blog?

OK, OK. I see this book is out called The Adventures of Cancer Bitch by Sandi Wisenberg. What kind of an idea is that? A Jewish cancer blog book??? Maybe I should start shopping mine as The Spiritual Enterprise of a Brain Tumor Schmuck?

it's done. the first draft anyway.

i've been working on this thing since january. 8 months. and it's about the 12 months before it. that's 20 months. 20 months for 100 pages. simple story problem i guess.

the thank you list is long and many names are mentioned throughout the story. i've tried to list them again here but i know who they are and they know who they are, the dead ones, the ones still alive, and the ones who have saved me in so many ways.

i mention karla though, cuz i have to. cuz even though there's so many love songs now they're generic, i can't help adding to the pile and the same goes with words and dedications. the year of death would have ended a different way without her. cuz why the hell bother without love?

now read it if you want to.