Two dear friends are fighting cancer at this time. One is Terri. I have spoken of her many times. Presently doing chemo twice a week.
The other is Dee.
Yesterday was World AIDS Day. Key West had its annual candle walk and ceremony. The ceremony at the former White Street Pier.
Dee participated.
Dee has a Doctorate in Psychology. After college, she ended up in the Keys. Bought a home on Cudjoe.
Found employment with AIDS Help in Key West. Spent the next 25 years of her life working with AIDS Help. Committed. Dedicated. Helping AIDS victims became her life cause.
Dee retired several years ago. Took a teaching position at Boston University. Returned to Cudjoe as frequently as possible.
Two years ago, she was diagnosed with throat cancer. A 4. Surgeries and chemo followed. She survived. She was in remission.
The cancer has returned.
Dee participated in the ceremony last night. She returns to Boston today. Monday she is back in the hospital to see what can be done.
I wish her well. As with Terri, two nice people who do not deserve what is happening to them. Nor does anyone.
I was landlocked all day yesterday. Could not get out of my home. Keys Electric was trimming trees. They had been doing so all week on my block. Finally got to me yesterday.
They spent the entire day cleaning my overhanging foliage. The pile grew ever so tall in front of my driveway.
I did not care. Had no plans for the daylight hours.
Last night, it was a manicure with Tammy. At 7. Her last customer of the day. She and her staff work hard. From 8 in the morning to 7:30 at night. Some of the girls work 7 days a week. Others, 6 or 5.
Tammy is from Vietnam. She has been here 15 years. Became a citizen last year. Married to Rick. They have two children.
Tammy not yet totally Americanized. Still no turkey on Thanksgiving. She cooks only Vietnamese food. Never cooks special on the holidays.
She says her family does not like American food. I tell her if she does not cook it for them, they will never know if they like it.
Santa Claus came up in our conversation. No Santa Claus. The children are 9 and 7. Just a story they have been told. Tammy is Santa Claus! She provides the Christmas gifts. They do have a Christmas tree.
Sounds harsh. Not. It is her and her husband’s way. The children have been raised to understand. Everyone happy. No one sad.
Tammy and the kids do celebrate Halloween. Tammy dresses, also. Accompanies her children to protect them.
I grabbed a quick bite at Outback afterwards.
Don’t forget Larry Blackburn’s photo show tonight from 6-9. He does great work. The place, Duval Square. I plan on being there.
Caught a news release on the internet this morning re the Michigan City Rotary. One hundred years old!
Significant! However, the Key West Rotary is 101 years old. Formed in 1915.
Why no national publicity last year for the Key West Rotary?
Diana Millikan is into William Hackley’s life! She writes the “negro” rent paid yesterday was to a different person than the previous. Which would mean Hackley has two rented slaves.
A major disgrace. Standing Rock. Native Americans seeking to protect their drinking water and ancestral remains. Federal, state and local governments fighting them. Working in effect on behalf of the pipeline company.
Though government forces have hit the Native American protesters with grenades, water hoses, rubber bullets, stunning devices, etc., the Native Americans have not fought back. Not one iota. They are protesting similar to Martin Luther King and Gandhi.
Things will hit the fan so to speak next week. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has told the protesters to move by December 5 or they would be trespassers subject to arrest. Six to eight thousand of them.
Those already arrested by local police for various reasons have been placed in large dog cages. Sitting on concrete floors. Temperatures freezing by day and night.
Terrible! The land the protesters are occupying is considered Indian land by the Native Americans and many knowledgeable in these matters. The federal government has no right to be on the land or telling the protesters what to do.
Never the less, the federal government participates against the Native Americans. Supported by state and local police departments. And a mercenary group, Tiger Swan. It is presumed the mercenary militants paid for by the pipeline people.
An American disgrace. One that can only get worse.
Enjoy your day!
I wish Dee good luck. Highland Hospital in Rochester NY has become one of, or, the leading facilities for throat cancer treatment. Folks from all over the country were coming there while I was there. I’d like to talk to her and compare notes. I’ve been asked to talk to quite a few folks in a similar position. Mine was inoperable stage 4 requiring chemo and radiation and a Petscan showed no cancer a month ago. Its soon but this facility has an excellent cure rate. A friend went to a different facility and died 2 weeks ago after being declared cancer free 2 months ago.
Thank you Patrick. I will speak with Dee. Doubt she would consider a change. She appears very happy with her Boston doctors. You never know, however. As to you, I was unaware. I am glad you are still here. I would hate to lose you as a reader and commentator. I continue to view you as the indispensable opposition.
Boston has some great facilities that specialize in certain maladies and cancers. But, I’m not sure about this particular type. I’m sure Dee will be researching everything she can. One of the great gals that works at the facility I went to, her husband travels to Boston for treatment of his particular type of cancer.
I’m convinced there is no real concern in this country to prevent cancers as the cure is a bazillion dollar business and the cure is barbaric.
JoAnn and I will probably be in KW visiting friends in March. If we run into each other the Beefeater is on me if thats OK.
As to the ‘ indispensable opposition ‘ it is surprising to me how many times you show your conservative side and we agree.on something. [ smiley face ]
Make sure we run into each other!