Adventure #2, as of Feb 12

Hi Folks,

Here's an update from my musings and activity from the last 3 weeks on this adventure back into PTCL-NOS.

Quotes I Kept in Mind Last Week:

The matador beats the bull. The bull is the strongest. The bull hits the hardest. But the matador is the smartest…

Muhammad Ali

Have courage for the great sorrows of life and patience for the small ones; and when you have laboriously accomplished your daily task, go to sleep in peace. God is awake.

Victor Hugo

The gem cannot be polished without friction, nor man perfected without trials.

Confucius

Make the best use of what is in your power, and take the rest as it happens.

Epictetus

Thanks You's

Top of the list is Mom, who tirelessly takes care of the house and my needs. She pesters me in good ways like, "Did you take your morning medicine." Now she asked it 15 mins ago and while I may find that tiresome, well, all too often, I probably did NOT take my morning meds 15 mins ago when she first asked. So thank you, Mom. Also thanks to my sisters Susan and Cindy, for helping with logistics from far away. As example, we have family clamoring to visit so Cindy put up a Google sheet to coordinate who comes when. Thank you to my sisters Susan and Cindy, to Joy Uncle, Monikochamma (aka Aunt Anna), Regi Auntie and cousins Ashley and Petey for making visits from far away. Thank you to all who call, text, WhatsApp and email to check in. To John, Shannon, Joe and Anne for chauffeuring Mom and I thru inclement weather to procedures. To Anne for the seat cushion to help by beleaguered butt. And of course, thank you for your prayers. As you'll see below, I think that's among the most powerful medicines.

[ Belated ] Happy Holidays, 2019!

Hi Folks,

As always, I do hope this note finds you happy, healthy and ahead of your own gameplan.  I hope 2020 is amazing. 😊 …

I am always curious - - what were your top 3 experiences in 2019? They could have been fun or arduous - we learn and get deeper from all of the, no? I no longer say "good" or "bad" - one quote that has sunk deep into my bones is from Hamlet, Act 2, Scene 2, "There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so."

Adventure #2, as of Dec 31

Hi Folks,

Here's an update from my musings and activity from Dec 23 - 31 on this adventure back into PTCL-NOS.

Quotes I Kept in Mind Last Week:

"Dear God, give me wisdom, I am very much in need of it for this moment."

"I pray I am with you in the baptism of today."

Abe, many times a day

Thanks Yous

To Mom, my sisters Cindy & Susan, and brother-in-law Chris for making the Holiday Week so nice. And special kudos to Chris for a real life version of the Netflix show Maria Kondo - he doubled the free space in my garage. Just amazing.

Adventure #2, as of Dec 23

Hi Folks,

Here's an update from my musings and activity from Dec 16 - 23 on this adventure back into PTCL-NOS.

Quotes I Kept in Mind Last Week:

"Waking up this morning, I smile.

Twenty-four brand new hours are before me.

I vow to live fully in each moment and to look at all beings with eyes of compassion.”

Thich Nhat Hanh

"Life's what happens while you are making plans.”

Front cover of Winnipeg Free Press, sometime in 1974

Thanks Yous

To my Mom and sister Cindy (she flew in last week) for all the ways they are helping out. Day in, day out. And to the family and friends who send in notes to wish me well and mention they are praying for me.

Adventure #2, as of Dec 16

Hi Folks,

Here's an update from my musings and activity from Dec 9 - 16 on this adventure back into PTCL-NOS. Please note I have no intent to make people feel dismayed (some of you commented some of this is bleak - yikes). Life is good, in a 1,000 ways. These notes are about that sliver of existence that runs in parallel to that river of whimsy, that's all, and what has surprised me along the way.

Quotes I Kept in Mind Last Week:

I cannot change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust the sails to reach my destination.

James Dean.

Day after day, O lord of my life, shall I stand before thee face to face?

With folded hands, O lord of all worlds, shall I stand before thee face to face?

Under thy great sky in solitude and silence, with humble heart shall I stand before thee face to face?

In this laborious world of thine, tumultuous with toil and with struggle, among hurrying crowds shall I stand before thee face to face?

And when my work shall be done in this world, O King of kings, alone and speechless shall I stand before thee face to face?

Gitanjali, Song 76 by Rabindranath Tagore

Adventure #2, as of Dec 9

Hi Folks,

Here's an update from my musings and activity from Dec 2 - 9 on this adventure back into PTCL-NOS.

Quotes I Kept in Mind Last Week:

"My body is broken. But my life is still grand." 

I am sure many have said this - I cannot find one source.

It's times like these you learn to live again

It's times like these you give and give again

It's times like these you learn to love again

It's times like these time and time again

Foo Fighters, Times Like These (see two great videos: studio version; live version @ Wembley stadium.)

Thanks Yous

The parents of the Interlake HS Cross Country team brought over 3 waves of sumptuous food. Thank you to Margaret, Eugenia and Michelle. It all felt far above my pay grade. In a very, very, nice way.

Adventure #2, as of Dec 2

Hi Folks,

Here's a quick update from my musings and activity in the week ending Dec 2 on this adventure back into PTCL-NOS.

I have been in Southern Illinois at Mom's place since Wednesday for the Turkey Day holiday. Now, Mom is next to me on an Alaska flight winging back to Seattle. She will be "local" for the rest of the treatment regimes. Luke Skywalker had Yoda and Obi Wan Kenobi. I have Mom who is the Zen master I lean on, and Dad sending me stories and jokes from some place faraway, like Obi Wan. Everyone needs characters like this when they run headlong into a malady, no?

The past week was blustery, as my sisters, brother-in-law and I helped Mom identify the best 67 or so watercolors for an art show that opens in January at Southern Illinois University's Art Gallery. "My last show!" she declared a number of times. She's as artistically productive at 80 as she was 35 years ago. You can see examples of her work at www.marypachikara.com.

Quotes I Kept in Mind Last Week:

"Thank God ahead of time."

Father Solanus Casey, beatified in 2017 and 1 step from saint hood.

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,

The courage to change the things I can,

And the wisdom to know the difference.

The inimitable Prayer of Serenity by American theologian Reinhold Niebuhr

Adventure #2, as of Nov 25

Hi Folks,

Quick update from the week of activity from Nov 17-25 on this adventure back into PTCL-NOS.

Quote I Keep in Mind:

"There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so."

Hamlet, Act 2, Scene 2

Adventure #2, as of Nov 17

Hi Folks,

A few developments to share about my adventure.

First of all, I had meant to include Rekha Thomas and Peter Blossey, who live in Seattle and whom I have known for a long time. Rekha is a professor in the Department of Mathematics, and Peter is a researcher in the Department of Atmospheric Sciences.

Second, status:

• The bumps on my body are measurably, visibly growing
• Now there's one from impacted lymph nodes in my other underarm
• I have added a few shots in this unlisted gallery

Thu, Nov 11, Seattle Cancer Care Alliance

This past Thursday, I met with my original oncologist, Dr. Andrei Shustov. This only after the Kaiser oncologist gave a referral. From what I can tell, the two oncologists have a long, unproductive history with each other.

Just so you never wonder what in blazes I was thinking…

A friend and fellow cancer survivor, Leslie Tsui, mentioned to me that she had "set the record straight" with her kids after she was in remission. I loved that idea and shared the following my boys back in Sep 2019. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Paul and Sidd, my adventure with cancer clarified that only God knows what happens next. Therefore, I wanted to share some thoughts. NOW. 😊 

1.      Forgiveness: I forgive you guys for anything you have done or will do.

2.      Luck: I am luckier than I can ever have envisioned to have the blessing of being your dad. Plus, I have been given the chance to live the years that are most important to me – your childhood years. (At least most of them, and perhaps all of them.) I am “biologically successful” and now I am shifting into the “bonus years.” I always had a good feeling about being a father, but "good" is a far cry from "sublime". I live in a province called Sublime.

Happy Holidays, 2018!

Hi Folks,

I do hope this note finds you happy, healthy and ahead of your own gameplan. May your 2019 be amazing. (I know, this is too long of a note. Worst comes to worst, enjoy the photos, quotes and book recommendations.  )

In a Forgotten Land
Abe Pachikara, Copyright 2018 (Click for larger image)

Pop quiz to start things off… I am curious, what was one good surprise for you in “your” 2018? What did you learn that will be useful going forward? What’s something you tried that didn’t get the outcome you had in mind - - we never share these though most good experiments have unexpected outcomes, right?

Two Gentlemen Meet

One frigid evening in the dead of winter of 1970, my dad was tromping around from door to door. Why? He was selling peanuts to raise money for the Kinsmen. (Kinsmen is a men's community service club.) But “frigid” was an understatement. Winter in the Canadian prairies is cold by anyone's standards. Needless to say, underdressing worsens matters.

When Dad knocked on the door of Abe and Elsie Suderman's home, Mr. Suderman greeted him. Being an inquisitive man with a whimsical way of being, Abe noticed my dad's low cut dress shoes, soaked by the snow that stumbled in. So, he asked, "Is that the shoes you're walking around in?"

Two Families, Out on an Excursion
Mary Pachikara, Copyright 1975 (Click for larger image)

Jeff Shushan's Intrepid Guidance

After a number of meetings with Jeff Shushan, a seasoned advisor on relationships in stress, Molly, myself and Jeff had agreed to prepare for a profoundly important milestone: we were going to undergo a trial separation. It was November of 2013.

The Curious Sea Lion Pup

(Day 7 afternoon. San Cristobal, GALAPAGOS!) Alas our last full day! And it’s the afternoon already on San Cristobal. :(

When people are less relevant, you really see how animals act. There's nothing to fear from humans, so as example...

Here's a frame from a GoPro video just before a young, curious sea lion poked my video cam, physically that is, while I sat in a tide pool last week.

Taking a Close Look at my GoPro
Abraham Pachikara, Copyright 2018 (Click for larger image)

All the animals, be it iguanas, boobies, sea turtles, tortoises or dolphins, simply "got on with their business," walking thru our legs if needed to carry on.

I found it enthralling, thought provoking and deeply inspiring, yet often was wistful to be in the middle of a tiny slice of what "Mother Earth" was like at one time, but won't be again for a long time, [ and what remains is potentially passing away too ] due to us.

If you can, visit these nooks and crannies of our planet. You will be happy you did.

What Was Today's Gift?

(Day 4, Isabela, night time)

Two young fish swam by an old fish. When the older one asked, "How's the water?" one of the young ones asked his buddy, "What's he talking about?"

"Seeing the water" all around us takes effort. One action that helps is to take stalk of life on a regular basis. That is, one's day, one's projects, one's relationships, etc.

Travel requires reflection as much as any part of life. Last month's journey is akin to last night's dreams. Both reduce to nothing but memories. Breathtaking memories, to be sure. Facts, opinions, conversations, observations and stories.

Recapping the Day
Abraham Pachikara, Copyright 2018 (Click for larger image)

Motoring with the Dolphins

(Day 3, in the evening. Isabela, Galapagos!)

We were out on one of the Zodiac boats - -smallish inflatable craft with outboard motors - - looking at many marine birds off the cliffs of Isabela Island.

Then, the ship radioed our boat's seasoned Ecuadorian skipper, Washington, reporting that a pod of dolphins were moving gleefully further out in the ocean.

Washington gunned the engine, hurtling our vessel out into the ocean and taking up chase... landing us in the middle of perhaps 40 magical creatures.

A Magical, Whimsical Troupe, Cruising the Seas
Abraham Pachikara, Copyright 2018 (Click for larger image)

Girl’s Fight!

(Day 3, Fernandina Island, mid-morning)

February is right in the middle of the marine iguana breeding season. That requires a nest where the moms can lay their eggs. To my surprise, when it comes to creating nests, iguana seemed to fall into two camps - producers, and takers.

Some of the expectant moms dig shallow nests in the soft sand on Fernandina Island. This is a slow process, as these creatures are by no means designed for excavating the loose sand.

Creating a Nest for Junior
Abraham Pachikara, Copyright 2018 (Click for larger image)

An Uneasy Existence

(Day 3, Fernandina Island, mid-morning)

As we sauntered around the islands, all the local animals carried on like tourists. Life was nothing but relaxed and easygoing. Eat if you are hungry. Sleep if you are tired. Play if you are happy. Etc, etc., etc…The humans? They mean nothing to these routines.

All the animals, that is, except for one - - the Galapagos Lava Lizard.

In such a country club existence, you cannot help but notice what appears to be the life of a prey. Even to the untrained eye, this creature is nothing, if not nervous.

They cannot and will not enjoy the oblivious living of their peers. A tiny denizen of the islands, they must continuously scan their surroundings.

Always on the Lookout
Abraham Pachikara, Copyright 2018 (Click for larger image)

Mmmm, the Sun Makes Me So Sleepy…

(Day 3, Fernandina Island, Galapagos! )

Another stunning place to visit is Fernandina Island, a lava covered sanctuary for thousands of marine iguana.

The iguanas are EVERYWHERE.

You truly need to look down constantly as you walk, as it is very easy to step on one of these tranquil creatures - - again an example that the denizens of the Galapagos view humans as irrelevant, so no need to run away when two legged sapiens come around.

Homer Simpson’s Hero, “I'll Get Up... Later”
Abraham Pachikara, Copyright 2018 (Click for larger image)

Dolphins!

(Day 3, Fernandina Islands, 6:15 am)

Yesterday I woke up early and went out on the top deck of the boat. Two words came to mind: amazing; and serene. I stared in wonder at the scene all around me: islands, water, breezes and early morning sunshine.

I then felt regret. "Abe, why are the boys not out here? What the hell, dude! Who needs sleep when you can have all this?"

So today morning, I dragged them out of bed and up to the top deck. Yet again, it was amazing. For me that is. I wondered what they thought.

Just then, Paul yelled, "Dad, dolphins!"

A Fraction of What We Saw. Dolphins, Everywhere!
Abraham Pachikara, Copyright 2018 (Click for larger image)