Flower Child Where are you Flower child Who stopped time To smell a rose Sang your song Of peace And changed The way we see Our world. As your Gucci-clad feet Now stride The polished halls Of corporate America Sans Song Sans Peace Sans Rose Can you still recall The feel Of Mother Earth Between your naked toes.
The Space Quilt When we married, It didn’t come as a complete surprise to learn that my wife Kay was a quilter. As a part of our Southern heritage, that skill set has been passed down from grandmothers to mothers to daughters for generations. And for good reasons. Those quilts have warmed many of us on cold winter nights. As time went on, Kay crafted quite a few quilts. Many for babies, some for family, some for non-profits to be auctioned to benefit their cause. None of them were for me. Fast forward several years and I finally amassed the courage to ask if I might have a quilt made just for my use. Kay’s immediate response and only question was to ask what kind of quilt I wanted. After a moment of thought, I asked for a space quilt. As you can see from the accompanying photo, she did a great job of granting my wish. No, it’s not a full size quilt, but I imagine in your lifetime you have seen these lap quilts used by friends or relatives. It’s the perfect size for what I wanted! About two months ago, I had major surgery to remove the remaining cancer left after a full regimen of radiation and then Chemo. The operation was a success. One of the side effects of radiation, chemo and surgery was a feeling of being cold, no matter what temperature we set the thermostat. My space quilt was used daily. I am finally recovering from the cold feelings. Besides crafting an excellent quilt and managing a very large banking job, Kay has become a proficient nurse and has help me in countless ways through this long journey of cancer. I can not express how appreciative I am for her loving care. I am also very thankful and ever grateful for the support and prayers extended to us by family, friends and our wonderful community. My prognosis is good, the Doctors think they removed all of the cancer and, hopefully, I am on my way to recovery. I’m still keeping that quilt close by!
Win the Day Cancer comes at you fast! One day, you are living your normal life with all the attendant schedules, conflicts and daily requirements of work and play. The next day, and without warning, Cancer (that’s with a big “C”) bullies its way in and invades every nook and cranny of that normal schedule we call life. Along with that disruptive diagnosis comes an overwhelming whirlwind of new doctors, appointments, and tests, invasively poking into your body, all to put together a team that will develop a course of treatment suitable to battle your specific cancer. Modesty becomes a memory, and you gear up to go to war. The dedicated experts at all levels of Both Piedmont and Northside Hospitals are the exact army you need to go to war with cancer. They are consummate professionals. Both of those organizations have been exemplary in their levels of respect and kindness toward me as a patient. Our community is well served by having them so near to us! My wife Kay shared the concept of “Win the Day” with me, and I liked it so much that I immediately modified it and made it my own. Briefly stated, I cannot win yesterday’s battles, they only exist in the past. I cannot today win all the future battles that consist of my ordinary life plus daily treatments of Chemo and Radiation for an unknowable time. The battle I must win is the one in front of me, and that is my goal. Win the day, this day! Cindy DeMaio, my much beloved and incredibly gifted daughter, surprised me by using my “Win the Day” motto to design a beautiful tee shirt. That design appears to have become quite popular, and many friends and associates have lifted my spirits by sending pics of them wearing the shirts or holding up “Win the Day” signs (including the entire Rotary Club of Jasper) in support. I continue to take chemo and radiation treatments Monday through Friday, five days a week. Radiation treatments are scheduled to end after 28 treatment days. As of today, I have 8 more radiation treatments remaining. Chemo will continue for several months after radiation is done, with eventual surgery sometime in early 2024. I do not have adequate words to express to all of you what the gift of your support has meant to our family. Your words, your thoughtful support and your prayers will never be forgotten. We are blessed to live among such loving people in this wonderful community we call home! Thank you all. With your continued support, WE will “Win the Day!”.
Once upon a time, a long, long time ago, way before the beginning of trees or even of man, Tulips wandered the face of the earth. From first growth, each Tulip would start their lonely journey to find the very special place they would call home. This could be a long journey, traveling through storms, over rivers, mountains, and even over the great oceans of the world. No two Tulips could ever go to the same place. Every Tulip knew when they were headed in the right direction because they could feel the pull of their home. They also knew when they were getting closer because they would feel the need to Sing. The closer they came to their new home, the stronger the need to Sing until a moment would arrive when the joy of their Song just burst from their petals. Every day, Tulips would Sing, and from the far corners of the earth, from every mountain, every valley, would come forth their Song. And God, no matter how busy he would be, would stop and listen to His favorite flower. It is sad that Tulips do not live for a long time. Because of this, and because the world is so big, they could not live together. But, Tulips were not too sad, because they could still Sing. And this was the cycle of Tulip life; birth to journey to Song to death. But God, who knows all things, was troubled. He knew that the Tulips were lonely because they could not live together. So God, in his wisdom, made Man. And, all the Tulips were now very, very happy. With Man to carry them, to plant them and care for them, now Tulips could live together and still cover the earth with their Song. This is also a very good thing for Man. When men are happy, Tulips Sing even more and when they are sad, Tulips Sing to cheer them up, But, when they are ill, Tulips will Sing a great call of Prayer to Heaven and God will hear the Tulip Song and cure their illness. This is the story of the Tulip Song.
