Arizona Gym Rats

I am 76 years old and my back hurts all the time. My feet hurt most of the time and my knees and right shoulder hurt a part of the time. Even my right hip is currently not bother me. It is difficult to lift a bag of fertilizer from the car and even more difficult to raise it over my shoulder. When I carry it in the shed, I'm ready for a Tylenol. bladder control has been a nuisance since I had a radical prostatectomy recovery after 37 radiation treatments that did not cure my prostate cancer. My right calf is less than my left (I used to have big calves) and he never recovered completely from these three days I spent in intensive care with a blood clot dissolved in the most painful. It formed after fusion surgery on my foot and almost sent me upstairs to meet my Maker. Now I'm on Cumadin (rat poison) for ever and will not let me eat my favorite foods such as cabbage, broccoli, spinach, beets and Brussels sprouts. My real estate investments took a hockey stick-shaped tower to the south and I'm not twenty or thirty years to work hard and recover. I did not even buy green bananas.

I remember a couple of postcards that my parents pinned in a corner outside, they were behind a mountain house in the Rockies. In a couple was sitting at the counter in a cafe and the waitress said: "I scrambled brains, liver, cooked, boiled tongue and pickled pigs feet. The customer says: "Do not say your sister disorders ... just give us a cup of coffee in a couple! "The other shows a man walking down the street that is distracted by a sign that says" SMILE "as he is about to enter an open manhole. It holds're Fired notice in his hand and his pocket full of bills and summons. Legend has it - One day I sat pensive, sad and lonely and without a friend, voice came to me out of the darkness, saying: "Cheer up ... things could be worse." so I applauded and enough things got worse.

Ten years ago I had been sentenced to death by a doctor who said I could take a $ 400 monthly for a coup three years, then the cancer metastasize to bone and I wish I had a painful death. Another doctor said that I did not at first the shots quite yet and I might be six years and then a painful death. I went to see a doctor that I grew up with. He said many doctors may find themselves in trouble trying surgery after radiotherapy. He said he had made more than 700 prostatectomy and I had the chance of success at 50/50. He said: "Dick, I say save your life." It sounded good to me and I said, "Go ahead Tony." I am pleased that Tony gave me a second chance

I am grateful for the doctors whose names I do not even remember getting rid of a blood clot. I am grateful for the animal called doctors who helped us get a better quality of life. Mr. Bacon for two back surgeries, Dr. False which restores my foot so I can walk without pain, and Dr. Badger, who has done work to relieve the pain in my legs.

A couple of weeks, I had time to myself and I started making a mental list of things I'm grateful. It was easy to list Donna, my wife of 56 years, and our eight children and their spouses, and our thirty grandchildren and their seven wives and our eight grandchildren. I am grateful for the time and means we have to visit them in Washington, Colorado, Utah and Arizona. I am grateful that we love being together and that we are able to be with them frequently. I am grateful for the memories of our son Gordon died as a child.

I am grateful for a home that provides shelter against the storm, protection against hackers, privacy in the world, and peace to the soul. I am grateful for the food and the convenience of access and ease of preparation. I am grateful for a car and drive on the roads and places to see. Am happy that I can drive on the west coast of th.